NPP flag bearer stir-up hope

Accra 14 March, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday stir-up the hope of the party's teaming supporters to gear-up for victory at the December general electionS.

Wearing a short-sleeve smock over a black trouser, Nana Akufo-Addo aroused ecstasy the teaming supporters of the party who had jammed-up at the party headquarters to catch a glimpse of the flag bearer and know members of the Elections 2008 Campaign Team.

Fifteen out of the 16 losing presidential candidates of the party including disqualified candidate Mr Nkrabia Effah Dartey received thunderous applause from the party faithful as they slowly moved through the crowd to take their seats.

They were; Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo; Mr Kwabena Agyepong; Professor Mike Oquaye; Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman; Dr Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah; Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey and Mr Daniel Kweku Botwe.

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; Nana; Papa Owusu Ankomah; Mr Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko; Dr Kobina Arthur Kennedy; Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng; Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor and Mr Felix Kwesi Owusu-Adjapong.

Mr Alan John Kyerematen runner-up to the Nana Akufo-Addo at the December Special Delegates Congress could not attend as the party explained that he had traveled.

As the flag bearer mount the stand to address the press most of the supporters including the Greater Accra regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye was heard chanting NPP popular slogan "Naa nana naa shuw, eh!!! Naa nana naa shuw, agbenaa" literally meaning "this is Nana, this is the elephant, that is the NPP,s emblem".

The people stood up and chanted "Nana nie!! Osunu nie!! Yenim wo fri tete, eshie rado!! rado!!".

Mr Dartey also had his turn when he was called upon to offer the Christian prayers, he sung his popular song "matwen Awuradze anim" to commence the prayer.

Other members present were national executives, regional chairmen, and the party's foot soldiers.

Mr Peter Mac Manu, NPP National Chairman in his remarks said the NPP had confidence in the competence and fairness of the nation's Electoral Commission (EC) because it had gained international recognition and acclaimed for conducting transparent election over the past years.

"We do acknowledge that, the EC as a human institution, are bound to occasionally encounter errors or lapses, but such errors must not be given sinister interpretation that might degenerate into any nasty situation in the country. We condemn any attempt to undermine the EC by any individual of group", he noted.

Mr Manu said the NPP would not allow anybody to use unauthentic excuse to create unwarranted tension in the 2008 parliamentary and presidential election.

"We have also taken note of the fact that leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have stated a campaign of accusing the NPP of setting out to rig the election"

"The NPP have no doubt that the NDC has prepared a game plan whereby the y intend to discredit and demonize the EC by feeding lies to the public" he said.

According to him the NPP rejects that type political campaigning which had the potential of re-introducing civil conflict into the country and urged Ghanaians to shun such practice. Mr Manu said the party was convinced that President Kufuor would hand to Nana Akufo-Addo come January, 7, 2009.

He said to make this assurance come to pass the NPP had put together a formidable campaign team to plan and execute their strategies.