The 2016 Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo Addo has stressed that he only needs ample energy and commitment to contest Presidential elections in 2016.
He made the comment during a BBC debate on Tuesday where questions were raised about the age of African politicians.
“I believe I have the energy… and I also have the commitment, and those are the two things that are driving me…” the 71 year old former attorney general told an audience at the BBC’s Democracy Day panel discussion on Tuesday.
The three time presidential candidate said the decision to contest for the third time was not his unilateral decision but that of the party’s, saying, “…I made the decision to present myself to my party asking them that if they agree, I want to go again.”
“…Beyond the energy, you have also the commitment: you want to try and see whether you can do something to change the facts of your society, of course doing so within the context of democratic government,…”he added.
[contextly_sidebar id=”fJjaoeEX0POWjT84LH2SIup9vppMYRnt”]Some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) have raised concerns over Nana Addo’s age as he attempts to contest President John Mahama for the second consecutive time.
But when he launched his campaign in 2014, Nana Addo clarified that his appetite in becoming President and vying for the position on the party’s ticket was still keen as before.
He told a teeming crowd at his campaign launch that he is fit and ready to contest on the party ticket.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am fit and ready and my appetite is as keen as ever to go into battle for the cause of the NPP. I am profoundly grateful that so many people consider me worthy to lead this promising nation of ours, even at the young age of 70″
“…I do not know what 70-year-olds are supposed to feel like but I feel well, my body is in good shape; my mind remains as sharp as it ever was.”
“… I have questioned and examined myself intensely to be sure that, to borrow a phrase, the competitive fire still burns in my belly. I wish to assure all of you gathered here, that, contrary to the propaganda out there, Nana Akufo-Addo is emotionally, intellectually, psychologically, physically, patriotically and spiritually strong enough to lead this party and our dear nation Ghana,” he said.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah