President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo yesterday predicted victory for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the 2024 general elections when he is bowing out after serving two terms.
He was speaking during the 29th anniversary of the founding of the NPP at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the party has delivered on many of its promises to Ghanaians since winning power in 2016 and retaining power in the 2020 elections, and said they will continue to do more.
“I am confident that come 7th December, 2024, the New Patriotic Party candidate will win the polls,” he said, adding that the party cannot accept the backsliding.
Although the country is going through difficulties and challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, these he however said, can be overcome because as he put it “we have the values to enable us to overcome it.”
He expressed elation to be celebrating the 29th anniversary of the birth of the party because according to him, he has dedicated his whole life to the service of the political grouping.
He recalled July 28, 1992 – the day the party was issued with its licence to operate as a political grouping. The then National Treasurer of the party in the person of Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, now the Chairman of the Council of Elders, who played a key role in the process, he said, “is here.”
Others, he said, are no more having gone to their maker. “I am happy to be part of the history.”
The celebration, he said, had to be done mutedly because of COVID-19 pandemic.
Ugly Noise
The National Chairman of the NPP, Freddie W. Blay, threw a subtle jab at the party’s opponents when he said the President will continue to serve the country well irrespective of the “ugly noises.”
“I believe this is what Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is doing at the moment, irrespective of the ugly noises and sometimes direct confrontations… What will keep us in power and help us build a sustainable future is our dedication to delivering faithfully the promises we made to the people of this country,” he said.
Mr. Blay said “the core value of the New Patriotic Party is commitment and dedication to public service. We must never forget what defines who we are – which is the democratic ideals of serving in the interest of the people – to build a better Ghana.”
“I want to charge the members of the party to prioritise unity over parochial interest. This is the only way that we will still be on top of government and our contract with the people of Ghana in terms of its development.
“This is the only party that can deliver that, and we must keep it so, and we must be very united irrespective of our own personal interest,” he added.
The NPP, Mr. Blay said, has turned out to be the most formidable political grouping in the country, adding that the party has every reason to celebrate the occasion having continued to contribute to the development of the country.
The party’s founding fathers, he said, will be satisfied with the performance of the NPP in transforming positively the lives of the people.
“Even as the party celebrates, there is the need to take stock, assess and recalibrate for a better Ghana.
“Let us renew our commitment to serve not only our party but Ghana as a whole,” he said, adding “This is the only party that can deliver that, and we must keep it so, and we must be very united irrespective of our own personal interest.”
He touted the party’s four presidential wins since the multi-party rule commenced in 1992 and called for the re-energising of the party to retain power, adding that there is every reason to be optimistic for the country and the party.
COVID-19, he said, has tested the party’s ability to manage the economy even in difficulties, saying “President Akufo-Addo has proven the party’s efficiency in government.”
Mr. Blay charged the party to break the four-year-cycle to enable the party to remain in power beyond 2024.
The occasion was themed: “NPP at 29, a tradition for stability, prosperity and continuity.”
The anniversary activity attracted top personalities of the party to the venue.
By A.R. Gomda