Adamant Sir John still flies Nana Addo’s flag
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie insists the party’s defeated presidential candidate for Elections 2012, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be an excellent president for 2016.
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That insistence on Thursday while engaged in an interview with Radio XYZ, comes on the back of criticisms that as a party scribe expected to facilitate the applications of all others who may seek to lead the party to the next polls, he would be well counselled to stay neutral.
But he says he sticks by his conviction because issues on the ground tell him Nana Addo is the obvious choice once again for the party.
Asked if he could throw his weight behind Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, aka Alan Cash, should he pip Nana Addo to the NPP flagbearership after the former expressed a veiled interest in the contest, Sir John remained consistent in his desire and choice.
“Your question presupposes that there might be only two candidates who might be interested in our presidential bid. Indeed in our party I can count of several hundreds of persons who would be excellent presidents in future, but I have said that I believe that Nana Akufo-Addo will be an excellent president in 2016 and I think that I stand by that.
“That is not to say that the door is locked or shut against persons who may be interested in future, in 2020 or 2024 but I’m saying that indeed, if you look at the current situation, and I have gone down the street, I have gone down to the market and I have heard what people are telling me and I can assure you that Nana Akufo-Addo will be an excellent president in 2016. I have no doubt at all about that,” he told Nana Agyemang on the Radio XYZ Breakfast Show.
Moments before plunging into a hushed defence of his conduct, Sir John was all praise for Alan Kyerematen because Alan had spoken gentlemanly, urging how the party could come together as a collective to wrestle power in 2016 rather than pitch that battle on individual strengths and on who leads the party.
“Well I think that it was a brilliant interview, Alan spoke clearly, very well, and I’m very grateful for the direction that he took in terms of what he expects of the party, what he thinks also Ghanaians expect – that we win the 2016 election so that we move this country forward and bring up the hope, the prosperity that has eluded the people of this country so far. And I think that that is exactly what he should have said and that is exactly what he said. I’m very grateful for that, indeed he states clearly that there are several interests… and I did not get the take that his ambition is in any way curtailed as a result of any statement that anybody has made, but then again as he clearly stated, time is of the essence in this matter …”. Click to listen to Sir John from GraphicOnline Audios.
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Sir John attributed a reported mad rush for nominations forms by persons seeking to contest party executive positions in the Ashanti Region to a renewed commitment and a renewed interest in the party by followers rather than any perceived non-performance of those in office. It also signifies the fact that the NPP won the 2012 elections but could not be declared winners for some reasons.
The NPP goes to the polls on January 25 to elect regional executives across the nation.