Today in 2012: I won’t tolerate corrupt politicians - Nana Akufo-Addo

Exactly eight years ago, prior to the 2012 general elections, president Nana Akufo-Addo who was a presidential candidate at the time assured Ghanaians that he will not work with members of his party who fraudulent and unprincipled.

He made the statement at a breakfast meeting with the United Kingdom Chapter of the Young Executives Forum (YEF) of the NPP at the Grosvenor House in London.

According to Akufo-Addo he has zero lenience for members of his party, the NPP who will work with him for self-serving purposes.

“My message to any of you, or anybody for that matter who wishes to serve in an Akufo-Addo government is this: if you want to make money then forget it. We don’t need you and we don’t want you.”

He added that the country has so many potentials to rub shoulders with first-world countries but it is not being achieved as a result of poor management of the state’s resources by corrupt leaders, and if given the opportunity to lead the nation, he would work solely in the interest of the country.

“Ghana is not poor, Ghanaians are not poor, what makes the nation so poor is poor management of the nation’s resources. We defeat poor management first and foremost by getting the right people in place,” he said.

Akufo-Addo also stated that he decided to be a politician to serve the people of Ghana well, and not because of economic gains.

“I chose politics because I want to serve; I chose politics because I believe I can play a leading role to create opportunities for everyone and raise the living standards of our people; If money-making was my motivation, I would have stayed in my successful private practice as a lawyer and take fat legal fees,” he elucidated.

Read the full story originally published on March 5, 2012, on Ghanaweb

The New Patriotic Party (NPP), Presidential candidate, Nana Akuffo Addo has assured the nation that if elected President in December, his administration will not work with members of his own party whose aim is to enrich themselves.

He promised that he would only work with people who are committed to working to enrich the lives of ordinary Ghanaians. Nana Addo was speaking at a breakfast meeting with the United Kingdom Chapter of the Young Executives Forum (YEF) of the NPP at the Grosvenor House in London.

“My message to any of you, or anybody for that matter who wishes to serve in an Akufo-Addo government is this: if you want to make money then forget it. We don’t need you and we don’t want you.”

He went on to explain, “If you want to make money, I am all for making legitimate money; but, if you want to make money then, please, don’t come into politics. if you want to make money then the private sector is your place. Stay there and keep away from politics.”

According to the NPP Presidential candidate whose is sure of the party’s victory in December, the culture where people choose politics as a money-making venture or career must be fought and defeated, it is frustrating the development of the country and breeding poverty.

He observed, “Ghana is not poor, Ghanaians are not poor, what makes the nation so poor is poor management of the nation’s resources. We defeat poor management first and foremost by getting the right people in place.”

Explaining why he chose to be a politician, he said, “I chose politics because I want to serve; I chose politics because I believe I can play a leading role to create opportunities for everyone and raise the living standards of our people; If money-making was my motivation, I would have stayed in my successful private practice as a lawyer and take fat legal fees.”

Akufo-Addo also told his audience of professional Ghanaians who hosted him at the exclusive place at Park Lane, Central London, that the fight against corruption must be fought on two main fronts: “One, strengthening, empowering and freeing up the institutions of state to deliver efficiently on their mandate and; two, for those at the top to lead by example. I will lead by example.”

He further stated, “By God’s grace, if we are successful in this year’s election, I want to attract to government a good blend of committed, competent Ghanaians, from home and abroad, experienced and creative, dynamic and dependable. We want to put together a team of patriots who can deliver and will get their biggest thrill from delivering on our programmes for people and country and not in enriching their pockets.”

“Transforming our economy, from a raw material producing one, to an industrial one, where our foreign receipts will rather come from the export of value added products and not raw materials, remains my goal," Nana Addo pledged.

He emphasized "Providing free, quality, accessible education up to senior high school for all our country's people will be a major component of that transformation."

The NPP disclosed, "Going around the country, meeting and interacting with people, one can sense the high levels of despondency and disappointment in this NDC administration, and the Ghanaian people are looking to us in the NPP to come and save them."

He attributed the nation’s under-development to factors including, outlined growing unemployment, collapsing businesses, widespread poverty, access to and cost of quality education and corruption amongst.

He however stated, “When the NPP returns to power in 2013, by the grace of God, we will build on the gains of President Kufuor's regime and move Ghana forward."

He repeated that his political opponent’s continuous fabrications, insults and attacks on his person do not bother him at all.

"The NPP has given me a duty to win back power from the NDC in order to restore hope to our country and that remains my focus; as for the insults and lies, it is just a small price I'm paying for putting myself up to serve my people and that does not worry me at all." he said.

He continued that the NDC have also resorted to attacking his person because they do not have a message to tell the electorate.