Nana Addo will lead NPP in 2016 - Sir John

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party has disclosed that the party's 2012 flagbearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo will contest in the 2016 presidential elections despite rumors that the statesman is likely to hang his political boots.

This news comes just days after the Supreme Court's dismissal of the petition filed by NPP presidential candidate, challenging the outcome of the 2012 presidential elections.

 Already there are claims by political pollsters that certain high-profile members of the NPP have been named as potentials for the flagbearership slot.

Nana Akufo-Addo after losing the Election Petition case on Thursday August 29, stated that he was taking a break off politics and would return shortly with his decision on what next to do.

However, Mr. Owusu-Afriye, popularly known as Sir John, insisted that Nana Addo is more than prepared to take up the mantle once more.

Sir John told Radio XYZ's strict proof program on Monday that " I am certain in my mind that Nana Addo will return and lead the 2016 presidential elections… He will win the elections, he will go to the flagstaff house…and go on to become an excellent  president"

He commented that the party flagbearer would stand the 2016 presidential elections if the party desired it.

"If that is what the party wants, Nana Addo will not disappoint." He declared.

Source: Radio XYZ

Akufo-Addo must be celebrated - Alottey Jacobs

The Central Regional Communications Director of governing National Democratic Congress, Bernard Allotey Jacobs says 2012 flagbearer of New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo should be celebrated for putting the interest of the nation ahead of his presidential ambition.

According to Mr. Allotey Jacobs, the courageous manner with which Nana Akufo-Addo announced his acceptance of the Supreme Court judgment in the glare view of dejected party faithful, calls for commendation.

The NPP leader called president John Mahama to congratulate him minutes after the Supreme dismissed a petition challenging the results of the Electoral Commission, and indicated he will not pursue the case any further.

This attracted worldwide commendation for Nana Akufo-Addo's peaceful nature with some declaring him, a deserved statesman.

Speaking on Badawam on Adom TV, Tuesday, Mr. Allotey Jacobs said the attitudes exhibited by president Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo immediately after the judgment, have enabled the country to gain respect from the international community.

This he said, will boost the confidence of investors to commit more into the development of the economy.

The NDC man however, urged the NPP to build on the legacy of the 2012 flagbearer and make the party more attractive for future elections.

Source: myjoyonline     

Tamale youth groups push for Nana Addo-Bawumia 2016 ticket

Some New Patriotic Party youth groups in the Northern Region have begun lobbying for a Nana Akufo-Addo-Mahamudu Bawumia ticket the 2016 presidential election. 

The lobbying began barely three days after the Supreme Court dismissed the presidential election petition which was challenging the results of the 2012 elections.

The court affirmed John Mahama as validly elected in the December 2012 poll. 

The verdict, in many ways appeared to have prolonged the presidential ambitions of the New Patriotic Party flagbearer who is now 69 and will be 72 in 2016, the year for Ghana's next election.

In his acceptance of the Supreme Court verdict last Thursday, Nana Akufo-Addo said he was taking some time off politics and will soon announce his plans about his political future in due course.

Even before that decision will be made public, the NPP youth groups in Tamale have conducted a poll, with majority of them pushing for the Nana Addo and Bawumia ticket to be retained for the 2016 elections.

Spokesperson for one of the youth groups, Mohammed Amin told Citi News without the Nana-Addo-Bawumia ticket, the party risks losing the 2016 elections. 

He argued the constitution of the NPP does not bar, Nana Akufo-Addo, who has lost two presidential elections - 2008 and 2012 - from contesting for the third time on the party's ticket. 

According to the youth leader, the former Foreign Minister is the most popular political figure in Ghana and on the African continent and must be given another opportunity to contest.

Amin insisted that despite the age of the NPP stalwart, he is still the best shot for the position of president in 2016.

Another, youth group, Kandaha boys is also convinced the NPP presidential ticket must be retained because it's a well marketed and trusted team.

Source: myjoyonline

NPP to seek review of Supreme Court verdict if...

The New Patriotic Party has indicated, it may seek review of the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court dismissing a petition filed by the party's 2012 presidential candidate and two others challenging results of the polls. 

General Secretary of the party, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie disclosed on Badwam on Adom TV, Monday that the petitioners will hold consultations with the National Executive Council (NEC), for a possible review even though the first petitioner; Nana Akufo-Addo has accepted the court's verdict and has declared his intention not to pursue the matter any further.

According to Mr. Owusu-Afriyie, the flagbearer was not the only one who took the matter to court so his decision cannot hold down that of his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and party Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.

Mr. Owusu-Afriyie, also called Sir John, was reacting to comments on TV3 made by Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, lead counsel for the National Democratic Congress to the effect that, Justice Anin-Yeboah, one of the nine Supreme Court Judges that heard the matter, allowed his political affiliations to cloud his judgement.

According to Mr. Tsikata, Justice Anin-Yeboah's persistent and consistent opposition to the stance of the NDC stems from the fact that he was appointed to the Supreme Court by former President John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Subsequently, Sir John stated that if the NPP - after studying the judgment - is convinced that the judgment was political, it will seek permission from NEC to proceed to the Supreme Court for a review of the decision.

The Supreme Court in a split decision on Thursday, August 29, 2013, affirmed the declaration of John Dramani Mahama as the legitimate winner of the country's closely fought 2012 presidential poll.

The nine-member panel dismissed a petition brought by leaders of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) claiming fraud in the election.

The petitioners wanted nearly four million votes nullified on account of which the first petitioner would have been declared winner of the elections.

 

Source: myjoyonline

Akufo Addo will be remembered as a true statesman - Duncan Williams

The General Overseer of the Action Faith Christian Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams has stated that history will remember the 2012 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo as a true statesman who put his nation first.

 "He will go down in history as a true statesman of this country and we thank God the followers of the NPP for also considering Ghana first," he said.

 The Archbishop, who was speaking at a special thanksgiving ceremony on Sunday, congratulated the NPP flagbearer for his display of maturity after the Supreme Court gave its judgement on the 2012 presidential election petition. 

"We thank God for the outcome of the verdict of the Supreme Court and we want to thank God for the Honourble Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the courage and humility he demonstrated and in gracefully accepting the verdict of the Supreme Court and in congratulating the President of the Republic of Ghana." 

In his sermon to the congregation, Archbishop Duncan Williams noted that Nana Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have demonstrated their true love for Ghana.

 Meanwhile, President Mahama who attended the services also has urged Ghanaians to put the past eight months behind and work together for the good of the country.

 

Source: myjoyonline

Duncan Williams counsels Mahama, NDC not to use power for vengeance

The Archbishop of the Action Chapel International, Nicholas Duncan Williams has charged President John Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to indulge in the politics of vengeance.

He urged the government to use the power they have acquired for the development of the country.

Archbishop Williams said "Power is not to punish, neither is power used for revenge, nor used to destroy your enemies; rather power is for building, for development and to unite".

 He was speaking at a thanksgiving service attended by President John Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama at the Prayer Cathedral in Accra.The archbishop called for unity and reconciliation following the Supreme Court judgement last Thursday that dismissed the petition that challenged Mr Mahama's legitimacy.

 According to him, it is incumbent on the President to create an atmosphere conducive for every Ghanaian, regardless of their party affiliation, to contribute to the growth of the country.

 "Power is to be used to bring progress and to create an atmosphere conducive for investment both local and foreign and not to be used to settle scores."

President Mahama, who read Psalm 23 as his motivational message for Ghanaians, urged the citizenry to put the uncertainties of the past eight months behind and work together for the common good of the country.

 "God has a bright place for us, we have a bright future ahead of this country but we can only claim it if we work together. I have always said that if you sit in the same boat and half of you are rolling forward, and the other half are rolling backwards, where will that boat go?"

 "It will stay at the same place but if you sit in a boat, and all of you are rolling in the same direction, it will go forward to the destination that has been prepared for you," the President added.

 Source: myjoyonline

Ghanaians commended for political tolerance

Most Reverend Dr Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, Archbishop of the Internal Province of Ghana, the Anglican Church, has commended Ghanaians for their political tolerance exhibited before and after the Supreme Court's verdict on the 2012 Election Petition.

 He said this had proven to the outside world, Ghana's maturity in democratic dispensation.

 He made this known when he addressed the 8th Biennial Conference of the Church at Agona Swedru.

 The three-day conference was on the theme: "Re-visiting the Antioch."

 The Church used the occasion to install Sister Nelly Buaku as the 9th National Master Shepherd and other officers of the Church at Agona Swedru.

 Archbishop Sarfo urged Ghanaians to continue to pray to maintain the existing peace.

 He urged the political parties, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members to refrain from acts that would inflame passion and disturb the peace of the nation.

 Mrs Queenster Pokuah Sawyer, Deputy Central Regional Minister, called on the Ghanaians to rally behind the government now that the petition of the 2012 election was over to accelerate the development of country.

 She expressed concern about the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy in the region and asked mothers not to deny their female children education.

 The Bishop of Cape Coast Diocese of Anglican Church, Rt. Reverend Daniel Adotei Allotey asked the members of the Guild of Good Shepherd to intensify their evangelism drive to win more soul for Christ.

 

Source: GNA