Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday told party members at Koforidua that they should gear up for a serious electoral battle in 2012 because the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) would try to hold on to power by all means, even though all the odds are against them (NDC).
“We need to be bold and courageous for 2012 because Ghanaians need us to come to power,” he said.
Nana Addo cited the Atiwa by-elections where the ruling NDC sent its goons lo visit mayhem on innocent people during that election, as a prelude to what could happen in 2012.
He said despite all the intimidation and violence perpetrated by agents of the NDC, the people in the Atiwa constituency resisted them and came out in their numbers to send a clear message that the NDC was very unpopular by voting massively against it.
He intimidated that it would take the courage exhibited by the people of Atiwa to send the NDC packing, asking supporters to be very courageous to defend the will of the people as the fore-fathers of the party did.
“They have intentions to intimidate us in 2012 because they believe that we are soft and cowards. If that is the thinking, then we shall see. At least, during the Atiwa by-election, we showed a little of our colours there.
“You must understand that this party was formed by courageous people. Our leaders who formed this party that has now become the biggest political movement in Ghana were not cowards. So in 2012 we need to be courageous because all ‘die be die’. All die be die,” he repeated.
“Ghanaians are crying for a big change and their only hope is the NPP because they know the NPP has done it before so we must work hard to get the party back to power to bring relief to Ghanaians, he said. “In 2012, all die be die,” he told a teeming party faithful at the meeting to discuss the process of the parliamentary primaries of the party.
Nana Addo said the party would have to win convincingly in the 2012 general elections, adding that the parliamentary elections would be a big determinant of who wins the 2012 general elections.
“If we had won five additional seats in the 2008 general elections, I would have been the president,” he said, stressing that the party in the Eastern region lost about 45,000 votes, which could have turned the tables in favour of the NPP.
“We must this time round ensure that we maximise our votes in areas we did not do well and go to the elections with a united front,” he stressed.
He used the occasion to refute allegations that there were differences between him and former President John Agyekum Kufuor, saying he has the best of relationships with Mr Kufuor.
“In fact, Kufuor will be part of the 2012 campaign and he has been made the chairman of the advisory committee to the campaign team,” he said, and added that all those thinking that the party was divided would be put to shame.
The chairman of the party, Jake Obelsebi Lamptcy said the party had put in place a conflict resolution committee which would be chaired by the MP for West Wugon. Mrs Frema Opare Osei, to help resolve differences in a few of the Constituencies to ensure that the party goes to the polls under one umbrella.
Boakye Agyarko, Campaign Manager of Nana Addo, explaining the furore that had greeted the NPP flagbearer’s comment, said it was much ado about nothing, pointing out that “what bothers the NDC about this whole saga is that suddenly, they have found their victim ready, and standing up to face the school yard bully”.
He said if it was war mongering, what the NDC did by matching to the Electoral Commission (EC) was more warlike than any other thing.
Mr Agyarko said when then candidate Atta Mills said Ghana would become Kenya if the NDC did not win the election, was the most warlike comment he had ever heard.
He said Nana Addo was only asking the NPP supporters to be courageous and not give in to the NDC’s intimidation, citing the incidents in Atiwa, Chereponi, Akwatia, and Agbogbloshie among other areas, where the party supporters were attacked but nobody was punished.
