<<Print>>

Mr. Frank Opoku Adjapong, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Brong-Ahafo Region, at the weekend emphasized that the choice of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as Nana Akufo-Addo's running mate will enhance the party�s fortunes in the upcoming general election. He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani that as the main opposition party in the country, the NPP could win the elections if it narrowed the voting gap between the party and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), especially in the Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions. Mr. Adjapong said the selection of Dr. Bawumia, a former senior economist at the Bank of Ghana who paired Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo in the 2008 elections, could influence votes between the two parties since Dr. Bawumia and Vice President John Dramani Mahama were all influential in the three regions. Looking at the current economic hardships, the voting pattern especially in the three northern regions can change in favour of the NPP, he said and cited that the recent defection of more than 100 members of the NDC to join the NPP in the Northern region alone explained why Dr. Bawumia should be given the slot to help win more votes. Mr. Adjapong, a businessman, observed that though it was the prerogative of Nana Akufo-Addo to decide who should pair with him, �if the NPP is more desperate for power then the choice of Dr. Bawumia must be the choice of all�. He said a research team of which he is the leader recently embarked on a tour of the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions to, among other things, assess the strength of the NPP ahead of the impending general elections. �During our four-day tour in each of the regions we realized that our great party lost the 2008 elections because of complacency and some divisions that existed within the rank and file�, Mr. Adjapong said. He stated that most of the party members the team interviewed during the assessment tour threw their weight behind Dr. Bawumia indicating that �it will be easier for the NPP since the 2008 running mate was in the limelight in Ghana�s political scene�. Mr. Adjapong admitted with concern that though the picking of the running-mate had been a great challenge, Nana Akufo-Addo as the final decider should stand firm in his decision as the electioneering campaign drew nearer. �Majority of the voting mass is ready to embrace Dr. Bawumia for a second time�, he said, and entreated the NPP hierarchy as well as all who matter to brave all odds and pick the economist as Nana�s running mate for a resounding victory in the December polls. Mr. Adjapong added that Dr Bawumia's eventual resignation from the Bank of Ghana in 2000 demonstrated his loyalty and commitment to the NPP and expressed optimism that all members, supporters and sympathizers of the party would embrace Dr. Bawumia for victory. The NPP leading member advised supporters of the party to forge ahead in unity, identify and find lasting solutions to problems that led the party into opposition in 2008.