Akufo-Addo calls for calm

Nana Akufo-Addo, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and New Patriotic Party Presidential hopeful, has reminded executives of the party that the NPP is a party that upholds choice and unity.

He has therefore called for calm as anxiety rages over the high number of aspirants. At least 18 people are known to be campaigning to be elected the ruling party's presidential candidate this December for next year"s general elections."Our party is not a 'kasapreko’ kind of party where when one person speaks, everybody else obeys" he said.

"Ours is a party of choice. We are used to choosing our leaders through the ballot box," Nana Akufo-Addo said during the final leg of his tour of the Ashanti Region.

The Foreign Minister, who visited all but three of the 39 constituencies in the Region, informed constituency executives of his intention to vie for the flagbearership of the party. The tour also aimed to gauge the reaction of executives to his candidature and to assess the structures of the party. Addressing his hosts in glib Twi, Nana Akufo-Addo said the NPP is a family, membership of which is defined by shared principles and a shared commitment to the nation’s well-being. In his usual passion and articulacy, he pointed out that people in the NPP have never seen themselves in terms of their ethnicity, religion or gender. "What unites us as NPP people is our commitment to the interest, welfare and development of the country."

Emphasising on unity as a precondition for victory in the December 2008 general elections, Nana Akufo-Addo posed this searching question to the potential delegates: "Of what use are fine, fine policies if we do not have the power to implement those policies?"

On the high number of aspiring candidates vying for the flagbearership of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo urged the executives not to consider it a problem. "It has been our tradition since Dr Danquah through Dr Busia to President Kufuor to elect from a collection of candidates," he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo called on the party executives to exact from the candidates, a promise to stay in the fold once the internal leadership contest is over and help retain power for the party in 2008. That was the case in 1992, 1996, and 1998 when Akufo-Addo was the main challenger to then candidate Kufuor and now President.

Nana Akufo-Addo was a key figure in the 2000 presidential election campaign, subsequent to which he has been a high-profile, loyal member of the Kufuor government.

Everywhere Nana Akufo-Addo went he emphasised the theme of unity, arguing that the party needs to elect a person who is capable of maintaining the unity of the party and who can be easily marketed. He indicated his belief that, that candidate was himself.

The Minister defended and promoted the record of the NPP administration, arguing that its performance was the best in the history of independent Ghana. Nana Akufo-Addo had earlier toured 26 constituencies of the Region before breaking off to attend official duties abroad. Over the weekend he toured the Oforikrom, Bantama, Asawase, Asokwa, Offinso-North, Offinso-South, Afigya Sekyere West, Amansie West and Atwima Kwanwoma constituencies.

Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied by several party executives and personalities, one of whom said: "We are very satisfied with the Ashanti tour. Ashanti is the heart of the party. For them to give us such great welcome, certainly portends good".

The Foreign Minister is seen as a politician with the charisma, intellect and populism that cut across social lines and make him a formidable candidate for the NPP flagbearership.