Accra, Oct. 10, GNA – Mr Razak Kojo Opoku, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged potential Presidential Aspirants to emulate the tenacity, commitment and unwavering love of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for Ghana and the Party if they desire to lead NPP in the 2024 elections.
He said breaking the eight-year cycle required Presidential Aspirants who will not quit or undermine the collective efforts of the party, maybe through unjustifiable resignation as a result of the inability to get the nod from the delegates of the Party.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Sunday, Mr Razak Opoku urged members to be committed to the victory 2024 agenda of the party whether their candidates won the Flagbearership position or not.
He said President Akufo-Addo who was the first National Organizer of the NPP and Campaign Manager to Professor Albert Adu Boahen was rejected by the party in his first attempt to be the Flagbearer in 1998, but there was no deniable fact of the major and instrumental role he played in the formation of NPP from the Danquah-Busia Club, yet he was never bitter, but supported the Presidential candidate and the party for the victory in the 2000 elections.
Mr Razak Opoku said in 2007, it was obvious that President Akufo-Addo was going to lead the party for the 2008 elections, yet 16 other people contested him for the flagbearership position and was bastardised by the supporters of the other aspirants, giving opposition to vilified him ahead of the 2008 elections, yet he rallied everyone for the elections to the extent of appointing a competitor’s Presidential Aspirant to serve as Director of Communications.
He said after the 2008 elections, the appointed Director of Communications wrote: “Chasing the Elephant into the Bush” which became a weapon for opponents in the 2012 elections.
He said ahead of the 2012 and 2016 elections, some of the people who served in the first NPP government deserted President Akufo-Addo and took the efforts of Akufo-Addo to recruit and nurture fresh young people for the task in the 2012 and 2016 elections, adding that, “adding insult to injury, some of the old party gurus attacked President Akufo-Addo in the media space and incited Ghanaians against his candidature and this must remind members to learn lessons from.
Mr Razak Opoku said President Akufo-Addo committed his government to the protection of the funds of depositors through the Banking/Financial Sector clean-up exercise for which public funds were pumped in to save several banks from collapsing yet some Ghanaians were angry at Akufo-Addo for saving many banks from collapsing and protecting the funds of thousands of depositors.
This Ghanaians he said vowed to campaign and vote against President Akufo-Addo in the 2020 elections for doing the right thing of saving banks/financial institutions and funds of depositors.
Mr Razak Opoku said the decision of President Akufo-Addo to stop galamsey to prevent the Country’s water bodies from pollution was greeted by anger and some vowed to campaign and vote against him in the 2020 elections.
“It was quite surprising when some people decided to campaign and vote against President Akufo-Addo in the 2020 elections simply because his government decided to protect water bodies and ensured the sustainability of the environment and survival of the humans, plants and animals ecosystems.”
He however said after the 2020 elections, President Akufo-Addo never gave up, even though the Parliamentary Candidates of the NPP miserably lost their seats in the Constituencies, where the activities of Galamsey were predominant, adding, “President Akufo-Addo in his second term in office still committed resources in fighting galamsey and that is the hallmark of quality leadership.”
He touted President Akufo-Addo for the implementation of free SHS, 1D1F, Digitalization, free TVET, Planting for Food and Jobs, 1 Constituency 1 Ambulance, NABCO, 1 Village 1 Dam etc.
He said free water, free electricity during the COVID-19 major period were phenomenal, yet some Ghanaians decided to vote against him and his Parliamentary Candidates in the 2020 elections, “in spite of this, President Akufo-Addo is still focused on addressing the needs and challenges of Ghanaians by providing first-class governance to the good people of Ghana.”
“Let’s emulate the political struggles of President Akufo-Addo, stay united for Victory 2024. No matter how you are treated by your Party or Ghanaians, you have to bear in mind that collective interest overrides Individual interest”.
GNA