Mammoth rally rounds up NPP anniversary

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a leading contender in the New Patriotic Party presidential race, has paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the party, as well as those who have helped to sustain it to date.

He mentioned in particular Stephen Krakue, Agyenim Boateng, Kwesi Brew, and the late Albert Adu Boahen.

Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing party supporters at a mammoth rally organised at Tema to round up weeklong activies marking the party's 15th anniversary. Nana Akufo-Addo served as the first National Organiser of the party.

Nana Akufo-Addo, Abuakwa South MP and the Foreign Affairs Minister (2002-2007), said since the assumption of NPP government in power in 2001lots of improvement in the system have happened and every sincere citizen could attest to this fact.

He noted that under President Kufuor the country has moved forward and also given meaning to the Positive Change the party advocated for whilst in opposition.

By December 2008, President Kufuor's two terms as president of Ghana would end, and both the opposition NDC and the ruling NPP would have been at the helm of the country’s affairs eight years each under the Fourth republican constitution.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the ruling party needs a "striker who will be able to win the cup for NPP in the 2008 general election."

He emphasised that who ever emerges as flagbearer at the party’s congress in December will have to be supported by all the aspirants adding, "if you do not agree then you are not an NPP person."

The flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo assured, will continue the good work of President Kufuor.

Taking his turn, former General Secretary and Information Minister Dan Botwe, commended the sacrifice and efforts of the party’s foot soldiers and ordinary members who suffered to ensure that NPP came to power.

He maintained that President Kufuor’s performance within six and half years has justified their cause and that those who lost their lives did not die in vain.

Theresa Amerley Tagoe, first National Women’s Organiser, appealed to the aspirants for the flagbearership to consider a female as running mate for the 2008 election.

The most successful leader in the Danquah-Busia tradition, President Kufuor said the celebration rally should be seen as the beginning of the NPP’s campaign for 2008.

He paid special tribute to J B Danquah and his belief and philosophy on human-centred governance, which revolves on government serving the needs of the populace in an environment of rule of law, rather than trampling on their rights and intimidating them into submission.

Taking a swipe at the NDC, President Kufuor said the main opposition lack the requisite organisational skills, vision and ideology required of a political party, adding "they came into politics by accident."

The President noted that NPP does not need to lie to the people to win an election, explaining that, "If you lie against me and I know it is not true I won’t leave my job and respond to it."