The 2012 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo has advised party members who support his bid not to be dragged into any discourse that may damage the party’s chances in the 2016 general elections.
“I urge all NPP members, who support my bid to lead the party for the 2016 elections, not to be provoked by comments or actions, and be dragged into any discourse that may damage the party’s forward march to victory.”
According to him, the upcoming flagbearership election is an internal contest and that supporters must be “guided and guarded constantly by an uncompromising sense of unity, fellowship and greater purpose.”
A former flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Alan Kyeremanteng on Tuesday, stated that the strong positioning of Nana Akufo-Addo within the party, “is not necessarily a reflection of what will help the party gain power in 2016.” [See: Nana’s popularity won’t guarantee victory for NPP – Alan]
The statement by Mr. Kyeremenanten, sparked reactions from supporters of Nana Addo with one of his spokespersons, Mr. Mustapha Hamid stating that ‘’Alan Kyeremateng has a mountain to climb inside the party before he makes a bid for the presidency outside of the party.’’ [See: Alan has a tall mountain to climb to be flagbearer – Mustapha Hamid]
In a bid to call for a cease fire, Nana Akufo-Addo in an Easter message called on his supporters to “remain calm and focused, and desist from actions that undermine the unity of the party.”
He further called on party member to rally behind the newly elected national officers.
Below is the full statement
AKUFO-ADDO’S EASTER MESSAGE TO GHANAIANS
I send my best wishes to Ghanaians, Christians, and members of the New Patriotic Party during the Easter celebrations.
Let us use these Holy Days to reflect on the momentous sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for each of us, and to celebrate the triumph of His Resurrection. It is a time for renewed hope amidst continued challenges our country is currently facing.
I appeal to all NPP supporters to remain calm and focused, and desist from actions that undermine the unity of the party. I reiterate, once again, my appeal to all NPP members to rally behind the newly elected national officers as they rapidly roll out their plans for victory in 2016.
In particular, I urge all NPP members, who support my bid to lead the party for the 2016 elections, not to be provoked by comments or actions, and be dragged into any discourse that may damage the party’s forward march to victory.
This is but a contest between members of one family, the Great Elephant family. We must, therefore, be guided and guarded constantly by an uncompromising sense of unity, fellowship and greater purpose.
The NPP has always stood for competition and choice, and I am a firm believer in these principles. Just as delegates of our party have always done, they will, at the right time, choose the candidate who they believe will best serve the interests of the party going forward.
The people of Ghana are looking up to us to make the necessary arrangements that will give them the confidence to trust us with the mandate to serve them once again. Ghanaians are looking to the NPP to restore hope and offer the kind of purposeful leadership that will speed up the development of our nation and the prosperity of every Ghanaian.
Let us use this Easter celebration to renew and strengthen our faith in God and conduct ourselves in a manner that underlines our commitment to the fact that there is hope for the future of both our country and the NPP.
I wish all Ghanaians a Happy Easter.
May God bless our country Ghana, the NPP, and us all.
……signed……
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @MawuliTsikata