Mahama will whip Akufo-Addo again in 2016 - Kofi Adams

Deputy General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will be doing the ruling party a huge favour if it retains Nana Akufo-Addo as flagbearer.

He said Ghanaians will not substitute a vibrant and charismatic president like John Mahama for an old man who turns 72 in 2016.

Kofi Adams was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Thursday.

Leading members of the NPP are lobbying for the retention of Akufo-Addo as flagbearer after the Supreme Court dismissed an election petition challenging the legitimacy of President Mahama.

Akufo-Addo who has taken time off politics is yet to announce whether to contest the flagbearership slot, or otherwise.

The lead lobbyists, including General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, are of the view that he [Nana] is now a household name in Ghanaian politics hence will deliver victory for the NPP in 2016.

But Kofi Adams cautioned the NPP should not delude itself into thinking that it can win election in Ghana with Akufo-Addo as flagbearer.

According to him, the twice defeated NPP presidential candidate, should he [Nana] contest in 2016, will be whipped again in 2016 by John Mahama.

The NDC Deputy scribe contended that if President Mahama used only 40 days of campaign to beat Akufo-Addo in 2012 then 2016 will be a cool chop.

He said that given the socio-economic challenges in the country, an older president will not be the solution.

Kofi Adams urged Akufo-Addo to consider retiring from politics and encourage the young ones in the party to take up the mantle of leadership in the NPP.