<<Print>>

The dust has finally settled and Nana Akufo-Addo has once again, introduced Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as his running mate for the 2016 presidential election. This was made known after the National Council upheld his decision to work with the man who assiduously played his role during the 2008 and 2012 general elections. Speaking at the party�s headquarters in Accra, Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his delight to work with Dr. Bawumia. The state of Ghana�s economy, would certainly guide voters to make a choice in 2016 and with the presence of Dr. Bawumia on the party�s presidential ticket, Nana Akufo-Addo believes they are heading into the battle with an appropriate team. According to him, Dr. Bawumia�s credentials as an economist, speaks volumes and there was no need trumpeting his indelible marks in that sector. He seized the opportunity to inform the gathering about the resolute support Mr. Alan Kyerematen has been providing after he lost the flagbearership race to him. He also congratulated the other candidates who wrestled him for the same post and made it known that the formal campaign team and its structure will be outdoored in due course after the necessary consultations have been concluded. Read Below His Full Statement STATEMENT BY NANA AKUFO-ADDO ON THE INTRODUCTION OF DR. MAHAMUDU BAWUMIA AS HIS RUNNING MATE FOR THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AT NPP HEADQUARTERS, ACCRA, ON 23RD OCTOBER, 2014. As required by our party�s constitution, I have, a few minutes ago, introduced my nomination as running mate in the 2016 elections to the National Council and I am happy to tell you that there was a unanimous and enthusiastic endorsement of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. I have been very lucky to have Mahamudu by my side since 2008. His credentials as top notch economist were always known to all and have been reinforced by his analytical work and performance in this sector in the past five years earning him the sobriquet of Dr Prophet. It has been a joy to see him blossom as a consummate politician as well and win the affection of Ghanaians, and we all know how the nation took to his performance in the witness box in the Supreme Court during the historic election petition. Dr. Pinksheet is yet another of his names. The economy was always going to be the main battleground for the 2016 elections but the dire situation the country has been plunged into by the incompetence of the John Dramani Mahama administration makes the presence of Dr Bawumia on the NPP presidential ticket even more appropriate. Luckily there is real chemistry between the two of us as well and I look forward to us leading the team that will ensure an NPP victory in 2016. I am confident that he will make an outstanding Vice President of the Republic and good manager of the economy who will help me reverse the decline of the economy, if Almighty God and the Ghanaian people favour us with the opportunity of service come January 2017. Now the party is left with parliamentary primaries to conclude our internal competitions and I am sure we shall conduct those with the same purposefulness we have demonstrated. I am happy to inform you that the process of co-operation after competition, which Alan Kyerematen aptly described on Saturday night at Efua Sutherland Children�s Park as being at the heart of the NPP tradition, is in full swing. I had, as you know, after the first round of 31st August, received the support and co-operation of Hon. Joe Ghartey and Hon. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, who made the shortlist of five but decided to drop out of the race to support me instead. I am in constant touch with them. After Saturday, 18th October, I have received with thanks and appreciation visits to my home from Hon. Francis Addai-Nimo and his wife, and my man, Alan Kyerematen, both of them renewing their pledges of support and co-operation. Today, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku and Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng also came to visit me for the same purpose. We are all fully committed to the success of the NPP project for 2016. The formal campaign team and its structure will be outdoored in due course after the necessary consultations have been concluded. Tomorrow, Mahamudu and I, together with the leadership of the Party, will attend the afternoon prayers at the Central Mosque to pray with the Chief Imam for God�s blessings, and on 4th November, the Party will hold an interdenominational service at the National Theatre, also to seek God�s blessings on the Party and on our ticket, and to thank Him for the peace and success of the primary. For the moment it is enough to introduce to you formally, ladies and gentlemen, the NPP team for the 2016 presidential election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Mahamudu Bawumia. Thank you. God bless us all, the NPP and Mother Ghana.