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The Paramount Chief of the Suhum Traditional Area, Osabarima Ayeh Kofi, says the decision by the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to seek redress in the Supreme Court, instead of resorting to violence, in the aftermath of the disputed 2012 elections, is enough testament to the true nature of the NPP flagbearer.

According to the Paramount Chief, the acceptance of the split verdict by Nana Akufo-Addo, even though he was entitled to seek a judicial review of the verdict, averted any disaster that could have befallen the country and preserved the peace of the nation.

“What pleased me was that when they said he did not win the election, he did not resort to the use of violence. He, instead, went to court, a case that dragged for months, and yet he remained patient. After the verdict, he indicated that even though he disagreed with the verdict, he accepted it. This shows the kind of person of Akufo-Addo is. If he had acted otherwise, we don’t know where Ghana would have been by now,” Osabarima Ayeh Kofi.

The Paramount Chief of Suhum made this known when the NPP flagbearer took his tour of the Eastern Region to the Suhum constituency on Thursday, June 30, 2016.

Osabarima Ayeh Kofi I, therefore, appealed to all members of the NPP, and Ghanaians, to emulate the same humility and patience exhibited by Nana Akufo-Addo, so that this year’s elections will be conducted in a peaceful manner.

He also advised the NPP to ensure that whatever is not well within their ranks be sorted out before the 2016 election.

To Nana Akufo-Addo, he indicated that if it is God’s will that he wins this year’s elections and ascends the high office of the land, he would have to work hard to bring relief to the people of Ghana, adding that “I know he has the backing of prominent men and women in the NPP and when given the opportunity he will work hard to justify the new title of ‘Agyenkwa’ bestowed on him by the people of Suhum.”

In concluding, he appealed for a peaceful conduct of this year’s elections, stressing that “if violence erupts, you can’t be President and I can’t also be Chief. My prayer is that this year’s elections should be conducted in peaceful manner, and whoever God decides should win the election should then lead us.”

Nana Akufo-Addo, on his part, thanked Osabarima Ayeh Kofi I for his kind words and the warm welcome afforded him and his entourage, which included NPP Eastern Regional Chairman, Kinston Akomeng Kissi; NPP Campaign Sector Committee Chairman on Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen; NPP MP for Suhum, Hon. Frederick Opare Ansah; Hackman Owusu Agyeman, former Minister of several portfolios under President Kufuor and former MP for New Juaben North; Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Minister of several portfolios under President Kufuor and former MP for Akim Oda; and Dr. Yaw Annor, former NPP Eastern Regional Chairman, amongst others.

He assured Osabarima Aye Kofi I that if violence were to erupt in the country, it will, certainly, not be initiated or instigated by the NPP, adding that the party has been at the forefront of the fight for multi-party democracy and will not do anything to detabilise the peace of the country.

Nana Akufo-Addo also called on all stakeholders to impress on the Electoral Commission the need to create a level playing field for all political parties so that the results of this year’s elections will be readily accepted by all, as this is the best guarantee of the peace and stability of the country.