We will reverse decline of our nation – Akufo Addo (audio)

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Oct - 19 - 2014 , 09:36

The three-time standard bearer of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has promised to reverse the decline of Ghana should he become President in 2016.

Nana Addo who polled 117, 413 votes representing 94.35 per cent as against 5,908 representing 4.75 per cent by Alan Kyerematen in the party’s leadership contest on Saturday gave the assurance that he will justify the confidence reposed in him by NPP members.

The Third contender in the race, Mr Francis Addai Nimoh secured 1,198 representing 0.91 per cent.

A few minutes after the Electoral Commission declared him winner and the party Chairman, Mr Paul Afoko raised his hands to introduce him to the crowd of NPP supporters that had gathered at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra, Nana Addo said they have a sacred duty to rid the country of the “incompetent” NDC government.

“We are going to reverse the decline of the nation. We have the men and women who can do it,” he said.

“We in the party have a sacred two fold duty. We must rid our country through the peace of the ballot box of the incompetent NDC government of John Dramani Mahama and relieve the Ghanaian people of the unjustifiable hardships and difficulties they are encountering.”

Listen to Nana Addo's speech in the audio attached below

{mp3}nana_addo_accept_win{/mp3}

Below is the full speech delivered by Nana Addo

This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. I thank the Lord Almighty for his continuing blessings on our beloved Ghana, the NPP and myself.

I thank from the bottom of my heart, the thousands and thousands of NPP members, polling station executives, electoral coordinators, constituency executives, regional executives, national council and national executive committee members, national council of elders, Members of Parliament, past national officers, founding members and ordinary members and the youth of the party for this overwhelming show of support

I am profoundly grateful and truly humbled by the massive confidence you have reposed in me.

You have put an enormous responsibility on my modest shoulders.

But I want to assure you that I shall do everything humanly possible under the guidance of Almighty God to justify your confidence.

I congratulate my opponents, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Hon. Francis Addai Nimoh for their competition and appreciate the gracious call that Alan Kyerematen made to me earlier this evening about my victory.

I congratulate also those who did not make the short list of five and those who did but dropped out of the race to support me. My good friends Hon. Joe Ghartey and Hon Kofi Osei Ameyaw.

We will all cooperate and work together to advance the course of the NPP and mother Ghana. That is what the people of Ghana and the membership of the NPP expect of us.

I am grateful to those in the party from the national to the polling station level who are responsible for the organisation of this successful election and to the members of the Electoral Commission, who supervised it. My thanks also to the police force for their service.

I thank warmly all those who supported my candidature and participated in my campaign. This historic result could not have been achieved without your hard work and enthusiasm.

I acknowledge with thanks the extensive coverage given to the conduct of the campaign by the media. My final thanks goes to my beautiful lady, my lady Rebecca, my children and family for their constant support and encouragement, without them I cannot go forward.

Tonight’s declaration brings to an end the process of internal re-organisation of our party.

We are now to gird up our loins, put ourselves together and get ready to face the big battle in 2016.

We in the party have a sacred two fold duty. We must rid our country through the peace of the ballot box of the incompetent NDC government of John Dramani Mahama and relieve the Ghanaian people of the unjustifiable hardships and difficulties they are encountering.

We are then to form a government for Ghana where we will reverse the decline of our nation, do the work of the Ghanaian people with integrity and bring about their rapid progress and prosperity.

We have the men and women who can do it. We can fulfill in our generation, the dreams and ambitions of our founding fathers to build a free, prosperous modern African nation governed on the principles of democratic accountability, the rule of law and social justice.

Let us be up and doing. God bless Ghana. God bless the NPP, God bless mother Africa. Thank you and May God bless us all.

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Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh