Ghana Cannot Afford 4 More Years Under Mahama - Akufo-Addo

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says Ghana cannot afford four more years of President Mahama�s governance, and has therefore charged the leadership and membership of the NPP to work hard for an NPP victory in 2016. According to him, ever since the ruling National Democratic Congress government assumed the helm of affairs some 7 years ago, every sector of the Ghanaian economy is in decline, evident in worsening living standards of the Ghanaian, widespread and rampant corruption, rising levels of unemployment and growing labour unrests. These developments, Akufo-Addo said, require a change in government in 2016, stressing that �come what may, the NPP will have to win the 2016 election to save Ghana. Four more years under President Mahama and his NDC will only spell doom for our dear country.� The NPP flagbearer made these comments on Thursday, August 13, when 4 newly elected parliamentary candidates of the party from the Gomoa East, Lower West Akim, Bolgatanga Central and Obuasi East constituencies paid separate courtesy calls on him to introduce themselves formally to him after their respective victories in their primaries. Nana Akufo-Addo maintained that Ghanaians witnessed vast improvements in their quality of life under the 8 year rule of the NPP, under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor. On the contrary, the preoccupation of the Mahama government, according to the NPP flagbearer, is not to seek the welfare of the Ghanaian, �as all they concentrate their energies on is enriching themselves.� �If the likes of Yaw Osafo Maafo were still in charge of this economy, Ghana would not be in this dire predicament. The NPP has the men and women to give this country a first class government, and steer this nation back onto the course of progress and prosperity for all. We have done it before, and God-willing, when we win the 2016 election, we will do it again,� he said. He continued, �The NPP is coming to serve the people of Ghana because we know that with good, honest and competent leadership, we can make this country into what it was destined to be � a rich, powerful and progressive nation.� NPP to win back Gomoa East A large entourage from the Gomoa East constituency, comprising polling station and constituency executives, patrons, and aspirants from the just ended parliamentary primary were first to call on Nana Akufo-Addo In his brief remarks to the entourage, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the electoral history of Gomoa East, a constituency once held by the NPP, coupled with the non-performance of the NDC in that constituency is indicative of the fact the NPP can wrestle the seat from the NDC. �I am confident we can win and overturn the 3,000 vote deficit that currently exists in Gomoa East. I am encouraged by the presence of virtually all the aspirants that contested on June 13, and subsequently in the run-off. This is a sure sign that the party is ready to reclaim the seat from the NDC,� he said. Mr. Kojo Asomani, the NPP candidate for Gomoa East, stated that the bane of the NPP in the parliamentary elections of 2008 and 2012 was disunity amongst the rank and file of the party. �The NPP in Goma East is now strongly united. I am aware of the huge task confronting me. Historically, whichever party wins the Gomoa East seat wins the presidency. I can assure Nana Akufo-Addo that we will deliver Gomoa East to the NPP in 2016, and by extension help you become President of Ghana in 2016,� the NPP Gomoa East candidate said. Operation 50/50 a mirage Next to call on Nana Akufo-Addo was Mr. Eyiah Kyei Baffuor, the NPP candidate for Lower West Akim, who beat three other candidates in the June 13 primary, including incumbent MP, Hon. Gifty Klenam. In view of this, Nana Akufo-Addo admonished the new candidate to tap into wealth of experience and support base of Hon. Gifty Klenam to ensure that the NPP increases its margin of victory in 2016, and thereby render the NDC�s �Agenda 50/50� in the Eastern Region into nothing but a mere mirage. �The NDC should forget about splitting the votes in the Eastern Region with the NPP. Rather, they should be very worried because we are going to whittle down their votes and increase our margins substantially. We are targeting nothing less than 70% for the NPP in the Eastern Region,� he added. On his part, Mr. Eyiah Baffuor indicated to the NPP flagbearer that the process of healing wounds, in the aftermath of the NPP primaries, is ongoing and very soon the party will emerge stronger to prosecute the 2016 campaign. �Lower West Akim is a safe seat for the NPP, but we have to increase our margins and we will increase it. The NPP had 57.80% in 2012 and, not only will we win, but we will increase this margin beyond 70%,� he added Bolgatanga Central now winnable Mr. Rexford Asanga, the NPP candidate for Bolgatanga Central, who was accompanied by Upper East NPP Chairman, Murtala Mohammed; Bolgatanga Constituency Chairperson, Madam Mercy Alima Musah; and fellow aspirant, Joseph Amiyuure, acknowledged the fact that he faces an uphill task in winning Bolgatanga Central from the NDC.