Akufo-Addo to fly out for a while

The 2012 Flagbearer of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is expected to fly out of the country for a while.

It is, however, not clear if the trip is part of his decision to temporarily retire from politics following events that have trailed the Supreme Court’s final verdict on the election petition case.

The former Attorney General has been inundated by calls from party supporters and leaders for him to run for the third time as presidential candidate of the NPP.

Immediately after Nana Akufo-Addo conceded to President John Mahama on Thursday August 29, 2013 after the apex Court delivered its final verdict, the party’s General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, announced on Radio XYZ that Nana Akufo-Addo will lead the party in the 2016 elections.

Several other party leaders and supporters have associated themselves with Mr. Owusu Afriyie’s lobby.

Several delegations from the party’s regional branches have visited Nana Akufo-Addo at his Nima residence to goad him on in that regard.

The lobbying has sparked a polarised debate over whether Nana Akufo-Addo should run for a third time or not.

Nana Akufo-Addo himself has had cause to call for calm and unity in the party while discussing the matter.

In the wake of the incessant visits to Nana Akufo-Addo’s house by several party groups and delegations, suspended founding father, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, recently urged the former Attorney General to travel outside for peace of mind.

Speaking on Joy FM’s news analysis programme ‘newsfile’ on Saturday, September 14, 2013, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako Jr. said: “I was getting to a stage that I thought that Akufo-Addo himself ought to have put a stop to it. Fortunately I’m told he is traveling. Maybe that’s also part of it. If you are gonna exit so soon after the verdict, there was the need for those interactions. The interactions would have been ok if it didn’t come with that twist of endorsement so I think that too was not good enough in terms of making sure that nothing that is potentially disruptive of internal party cohesion is given any legitimacy”.