Alan, Addai-Nimoh join forces with Akufo-Addo
Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen yesterday visited Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to formally declare his support for his candidature towards the 2016 presidential election.
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The move by Mr Kyerematen, one of the two defeated aspirants in the NPP’s presidential primary, is a bold and decisive one towards the unification of segmented interests in the party and puts to rest fears that the two may never work together.
Last Monday, the other aspirant, Mr Francis Addai Nimo, first visited Nana Akufo Addo at his Nima residence in Accra to express his willingness in partnering Nana towards victory for the party in 2016.
Need for unity
The actions by the two aspirants affirm calls by the party chairman, Mr Paul Afoko, who, following the declaration of the winner last Saturday, appealed to the rank and file of the party to bury their differences and work together to ensure victory for the party in 2016.
He said the process of preparing for power internally had come and that the party had a candidate whom he described as “a president in the waiting”.
Prior to the election, two of the five shortlisted aspirants, Mr Joe Ghartey and Mr Osei Ameyaw, had decided to withdraw in the interest of party unity and cohesion and pledged their support for Nana Akufo-Addo.
Serious concerns
However, concerns were raised over the media war that two former general secretaries of the party had engaged in prior to the election.
Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, spoke for Nana Akufo-Addo while Nana Ohene Ntow was the spokesperson for Mr Kyerematen.
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The two had taken what appeared to be irreconcilable stance on who was capable of winning the flag-bearer position and leading the party on to victory.
The two had made strong statements and serious jabs in defence of their preferences, thereby raising doubts that the two camps may not come together to work for victory for the party.
But when Mr Kyerematen visited the residence of Nana Akufo Addo, he was accompanied by his spokesperson, Nana Ohene Ntow and his campaign manager, Mr Kofi Dzamesi.
Mr Kyerematen assured Nana Akufo-Addo of his personal support as well as the full support of his team towards victory in 2016.
“We want to make it clear to members of our party that the contest was not just about Akufo-Addo, Alan or Addai. It was about how we prepare ourselves to take over power in 2016. The spirit of politics in the NPP is that we compete and thereafter we co-operate”.
Nana Akufo-Addo said Mr Kyerematen summed up the tradition of the party when he spoke after the declaration of the winner at the Efua Sutherland Park that “we compete and thereafter, we co-operate”.
Ghanaians desperately need change
“Our people desperately want a change and it is up to us to make sure that they get it and they can only get it if all of us are seen to be in the same boat paddling together,” Nana Akufo-Addo stated.
Nana Akufo-Addo addressed Mr Ohene Ntow as General Secretary and jokingly said “for now the competition is over”.
Addai-Nimoh
Earlier on Monday, Mr Addai-Nimoh at the Nima residence of Nana Akufo-Addo, gave the assurance that his wife Stella would join Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, wife of Nana Akufo-Addo, in the mobilisation of women to support the 2016 campaign.
Nana Akufo-Addo was full of praise for the visit and said he was looking forward to the effective participation of Mr Addai Nimoh in the campaign. Mr Addai-Nimoh was at the residence with his wife and his Greater Accra regional campaign team.