Nana Akufo-Addo and Ursula Owusu
New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has dismissed comments by Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur that the NPP is preparing to rig the December elections.
He indicated, “What I know is that President Mahama and his vice president own the copyright to the rigging phenomenon in Ghana.”
Nana Akufo-Addo thinks incumbent President John Mahama and his vice presidential candidate Amissah-Arthur cannot wean themselves off the tag of rigging because his National Democratic Congress (NDC) has gained notoriety for election rigging.
He said the vice president’s comment could only have been influenced by an obvious defeat staring in the face of the NDC.
According to the NPP presidential candidate, if there is any group of persons in Ghana whose only hope of victory in the December 7 elections hinges on rigging, then it is President Mahama and his Vice President Amissah-Arthur.
That was in response to the assertion made by Mr Amissah-Arthur who was addressing the people of the Asawase Constituency in the Ashanti Region over the weekend.
Mr Ammisah-Arthur told party supporters, “I will urge all of you to be extra vigilant. NDC needs help. On December 7, some people will try to cheat the NDC. Be very vigilant to ensure that no one succeeds in cheating us.”
But addressing a large crowd of NPP supporters and sympathizers in the Ablekuma West Constituency yesterday during his campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that what the vice president had said was an indication that “Mahama and Amissa-Arthur have already thrown in the towel.”
Reason
That, he said, was because “We in the NPP believe in multiparty democracy” and therefore made a passionate appeal to the veep; “If Amissah-Arthur has seen defeat looming, I appeal to him not to say things that will anger Ghanaians. We beg of him.”
Nana Addo said he was confident of victory in this year’s elections and that the NPP would not need to rig elections or bribe the electorate in order to win the elections.
“This year, Ghanaians are ready to ride on the back of the ‘elephant’ and help the NPP do a good job for them in the Jubilee House,” he added.
Assurance
The NPP flag bearer’s first point of call during his tour of the constituency was Shiabu where he assured the fisher folks that “The issues pertaining to the fishing industry, which is on the verge of collapse, will be fixed by my government.”
“Likewise, all I have said, including the reviving of the NHIS, the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy, One District-One Factory to help create jobs, amongst others, God-willing, will be fulfilled when I win this year’s elections,” he stressed.
Claims for NHIS operators from the beginning of the year have not been paid by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), DAILY GUIDE has learnt.
Aside that, Nana Addo said, “We have the men and women in the NPP who, when entrusted with the people’s mandate, will give this country a first class government, and return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity, without discrimination.”
Unity
He expressed worry that “We are on a rich land and yet we are poor, all because of bad leadership. We (in the NPP) are coming into office to do a job for all Ghanaians,” urging the electorate to vote for the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the Ablekuman West Constituency, Ursula Owusu Ekuful.
“Win or lose (in NPP elections), you stay with the party. You have seen Alan Kyerematen here with me today. He contested the NPP presidential primary and yet, even though he wasn’t successful, he is here with me today campaigning. That is the hallmark of true blue NPP members,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.
With the NPP aiming at securing a decisive majority in the popular vote, as well as securing the majority of parliamentary seats, the NPP flag bearer appealed to party members and sympathisers not to entertain the thought of voting ‘skirt and blouse,’ either in the presidential or parliamentary election.
He therefore, urged the rank and file of the party to rally behind its parliamentary candidates across the length and breadth of the country.
A DAILY GUIDE Report