Akufo-Addo: I never asked Kufuor to step down for me

Presidential hopeful, Nana Akufo-Addo, has denied ever asking the NPP’s flagbearer in 1998, John Kufuor - whom he lost the flagbearership contest to at the time - to abandon his aspirations in his (Akufo-Addo’s) favour.

Akufo-Addo has also denied claims that Kufuor’s brother, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, supported his flagbearership bid at the time, against his own kith.

The former Attorney General’s office has described the allegations – first made by senior party member, Dr Richard Anane – as an attempt to warp history.

A statement signed by his press secretary, Eugene Arhin said the allegations “being made by some persons supporting candidates in the current NPP presidential primary contest” were solely aimed at “rewriting history based on fabrications they have manufactured”.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that the statements being peddled are wholly untrue.

“Nana Akufo-Addo did not instruct any member of his campaign team to approach the party leadership to change the elected flagbearer of the party in 1998, nor was any such approach made”, the statement said.

“Additionally, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor was not a member of Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign team in the run-up to the Sunyani congress of 1998, neither did he offer any support to Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign”, it added.

“These attempts to rewrite history and fabricate issues from 16 years ago, hopefully to prop up the campaign of a presidential aspirant, are reprehensible and must be condemned in no uncertain terms”, the former foreign affairs Minister’s office said.

Akufo-Addo and two others: Alan Kyerematen and Francis Addai Nomoh, are gearing up for the party’s mega conference on October 18, at which an Electoral College of 141,000 Delegates will elect a flagbearer for the 2016 elections.