We Don’t Want An ‘ECOWAS Register’ In Ghana – Nana Addo
The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the spectre of having non-Ghanaians on the voters’ register, who eventually have a say as to who Ghana’s president should be, must no longer be countenanced by all well-meaning Ghanaians.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the evidence gathered by the NPP, which shows that Ghana’s biometric voters’ register contains the names of thousands of foreign nationals, is indicative of the fact that the electoral roll is fundamentally flawed and unfit for purpose in 2016.
“We don’t want a West African election, we want a Ghanaian election. We only want an election of Ghanaian people who are entitled to vote,” he stressed.
The NPP flagbearer made this known when Alex Kojo Abban, NPP parliamentary candidate for Gomoa West; Gabriel Nsoh Agana, NPP parliamentary candidate for Bongo; Ekow Quansah Hayford, NPP parliamentary candidate for Mfantseman; and Daniel Okyem Aboagye, NPP parliamentary candidate for Bantama, paid separate courtesy calls on him at his Nima residence on Thursday, August 20, to introduce themselves formally to him in the aftermath of their respective victories in the June 13 parliamentary primaries.
Towards ensuring that a new voters’ register is compiled for 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that “the NPP will continue to agitate peacefully, and advocate for a new voters’ register for 2016. At the end of the day, the Electoral Commission will have to look at our evidence, do what is right, and do what the people of Ghana are demanding.”
Akufo-Addo wondered why the ruling National Democratic Congress party, led by its General Secretary, has taken upon itself the role of “chief advocate for the Electoral Commission, an independent body.”
These actions by the NDC, however, according to him, will not deter the NPP from stressing the need for Ghana to have a new, credible voters’ register that must be compiled in time for the 2016 general elections
“We will not be perturbed (by the actions of the NDC). We want a register that is fit for purpose. We don’t want an ‘ECOWAS register'”, Nana Addo maintained.
The ‘fight’ being put up to ensure that a new voters’ register is not compiled for the 2016 election, Nana Akufo-Addo said, is indicative of the fact that “President Mahama and his NDC party will not want to let power go off easily.”
The Mahama government, in the opinion of the NPP flagbearer, is more preoccupied with how to win the next election to the detriment of the next generation, adding that “their only concern is not the forward movement of our country, but how to perpetuate their continued stay in power for their own personal gains.”
In spite of this, Nana Akufo-Addo remained confident about the party’s chances in the 2016 election because “Ghanaians have come to realise that there is there’s no other party in Ghana capable of delivering progress and prosperity but the NPP. Our track record, under President Kufuor’s government, from 2001 to 2009 is unmatched, and the reason why Ghanaians are desperate for change in 2016, so we can resume our work of progress and development.”
He reminded the rank and file of the party that an NPP victory in 2016 is critical, as another 4 years under Mahama will be disastrous for the nation.
Akufo-Addo also urged NPP members to refrain from airing their grievances in the media landscape, stressing that “even if an NPP member insults me, don’t retaliate. If you don’t retaliate, the issue will die. Let us keep our focus, which is winning the 2016 election. Please take the NPP’s message of hope and progress to every household in your constituencies because that is what will bring us victory. We have to make sure that our polling station executives do this work.”
Taking their turns to address the NPP leader, the candidates from the Bongo, Gomoa West and Mfantseman constituencies assured Nana Akufo-Addo, in the presence of their constituency and polling station executives, and council of elders, about their determination to working hard to wrestling these seats which are currently held by the NDC.
Daniel Okyem Aboagye, the Bantama parliamentary candidate, also assured the NPP flagbearer of an increase in the party’s winning margin, from the 83.26% the party chalked in 2012 to nothing less than 90% in 2016.
Present at the flagbearer’s Nima residence who attended the meetings were Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Finance Minister in the Kufuor government, former Akim Oda MP, and current Chairman of the NPP Council of Elders in the Eastern Region; Dr. Kwame Amoako Tuffuor, a member of the NPP’s National Council; and Fred Oware, former 1st vice National Chairman of the NPP.
Source: NPP
