Akufo-Addo commands over 80% support in NPP - Osafo-Marfo

Former Minister of Finance under the erstwhile Kufuor-led New Patriotic Party government, Yaw Osafo-Marfo, says results of the 2010 presidential primary and the August 31 Special Electoral College show clearly that Nana Akufo-Addo is the overwhelming choice of NPP delegates at all levels of the party’s organization.

According to Yaw Osafo-Marfo, in 2010 with an expanded Electoral College of 106,000 plus delegates made up largely of polling station executives, Nana Akufo-Addo obtained some 79% of valid votes cast.

He added that in the August 31, 2014 contest, where the Electoral College consisted of Members of Parliament, constituency chairmen, regional executives, founding fathers, national officers, members of the national council and council of elders, described as the upper echelon of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo received 80.81% of the votes cast.

This, according to Hon. Yaw Osafo Maafo, is a clear manifestation of the support Nana Akufo-Addo enjoys within the rank and file of the NPP, adding that he has no doubt whatsoever that come October 18, Nana Akufo-Addo will receive nothing less than an 80% endorsement.

“Akufo-Addo already has 80% of NPP votes. The majority of people, no matter their level in the party, support Nana Akufo-Addo. On the 18th of October, we will show them that he is the choice of the NPP going into election 2016,” he said.

The former finance minister explained that this was the basis for his call, prior to the Special Electoral College that any candidate who obtains more than two-thirds of the vote must be allowed to run unopposed as the party’s leader for the general election.

However, since some aspirants did not heed his call, he stated that it is a clear case of some of the aspirants wanting to end their political careers. “It seems they want us to retire them once and for all. If Nana Addo receives 80 to 90% in October 18, then where lies your future in the NPP and Ghanaian politics?” he asked.

Mr Osafo-Marfo admonished the delegates to remain focused on delivering victory for the party in 2016 election, as the election of a presidential candidate for the NPP was a foregone conclusion. “I am certain we will win the 2016 elections. It is the most important vote for this country and we will deliver,” he added.

He re-echoed the sentiments made by Mr. Stephen Ntim and charged the delegates to welcome everyone, who previously was not in support of Nana Akufo-Addo’s bid to lead the NPP, onboard.

Hon. Yaw Osafo Maafo made these comments when he addressed the 84 Eastern Regional delegates, who voted in the August 31 contest and delivered a 91.67% endorsement for Nana Akufo-Addo, when the latter took his Thank You tour to the region on Sunday, September 21, 2014.

At the same event, MP for Asuogyaman and former presidential aspirant of the party, Hon. Osei Ameyaw urged the delegates to deliver another resounding victory for Nana Akufo-Addo in October 18.

He explained that the man who championed the expansion of the Electoral College of the NPP in 2009, thereby ensuring that the grassroots of the party have an equal say in who becomes presidential candidate of the party, was Nana Akufo-Addo.

“In view of this, let us reward Nana by making sure that he wins the election massively. It is because of Nana Akufo-Addo that all polling station executives now vote. I pledge my support for him once again and will work hard and make sure that he becomes the next President of Ghana,” Hon. Osei-Ameyaw noted.

Nana Akufo-Addo will round off his “Thank You Tour” today, September 22, in the Volta Region.