NANA Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Saturday shrugged off the challenge of four contestants in the historic expanded congress of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to emerge with a resounding victory as the party’s presidential candidate for Election 2012.
Polling 83,517 of the total 106,590 valid votes cast, representing 78.89 per cent, the highest number of votes ever earned by a presidential aspirant at congress, Nana Akufo-Addo plunged into action almost immediately as he told the party’s faithfuls, “I won’t let you down this time”.
Spontaneous wild jubilation by supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo and the party faithful across the country had saturated the atmosphere long before the Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Kofi Arhin, declared him as winner at 11:10p.m, approximately eight hours after the close of polls.
Mr John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who was expected to give Nana Akufo-Addo a good run for his money, wallowed disappointingly with 21,226 votes, representing 19.91 per cent.
The other three contestants managed to share only two per cent of the votes with Mr Isaac Osei obtaining 1,194 votes, representing 1.12 per cent, while Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng had 428 votes, representing 0.40 per cent, with Rev. John Kwame Kodua managing only 225 votes, representing 0.21 per cent.
There were 426 rejected ballots.
The victory of Nana Akufo-Addo was so overwhelming that long before the EC had officially declared the results, the four other aspirants conceded defeat and congratulated the newly elected flag bearer on his victory.
They further pledged their support to Nana Akufo-Addo to ensure victory in the 2012 election and restore the party to power.
In his victory speech, Nana Akufo-Addo, flanked by his wife and three of the aspirants, said he was humbled by the victory, particularly the margin of votes he received, and promised the rank and file of the party, he would lead them to victory this time.
He said the successful, free, fair and showpiece (’krabehwe’) manner in which the special national delegates election had been organised was a clear message to the entire country and the ruling National Democratic Congress that the NPP was ready, steady and united to regain power in 2012.
“Those at the Castle, down the 28th February Road, should by now be listening with rapt attention because the NPP has spoken with a strong voice," he remarked.
While daring the NPP’s political opponents even ahead of Election 2012, Nana Akufo-Addo did not lose sight of the task of building internal unity, pointing out that he, together with the leaders of the party, would employ the trust and confidence of the party’s members to build a well-lubricated, united campaign machinery to execute the agenda for Election 2012.
He said although the overwhelming majority of the party delegates had had their say by voting for him, the whole family must lead the way to victory in 2012, adding, “I pledge to work with all my heart and soul to achieve this.”
Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his desire to continue the party’s tradition of building a thriving democracy and strong market economy, which would deliver property to majority of Ghanaians under the rule of law, respect for human rights and the principles of democratic accountability.
He commended his campaign team led by Mr Boakye Agyarko and Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, who helped him conduct a very comprehensive campaign, while expressing gratitude to the delegates for their massive endorsement.
All the four losing aspirants who contested last Saturday’s election conceded defeat and pledged their support for Nana Akufo-Addo to ensure victory for the party in Election 2012.
Mr Alan Kyerematen, Mr Isaac Osei and Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng mounted platform at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra where the results were declared by the officials of the Electoral Commission, to congratulate Nana Akufo-Addo on his victory, which they described variously as overwhelming.
Although the fourth aspirant, Lawyer John Kwabena Kodua, was not present at the ceremony and therefore did not make any such open concession, party chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey told the gathering that Mr Kodua had called him (Jake) on telephone to concede defeat.
Mr Kyerematen, who was expected to pose a challenge to Nana Akufo-Addo, said he willingly and whole-heartedly accepted the verdict of the delegates.
He pledged to support Nana Akufo-Addo in his bid to win the 2012 presidential election and urged all his supporters to also work tirelessly for the party’s flag bearer to ensure victory.
Mr Kyerematen said by last Saturday’s experiment, the NPP had empowered its grass roots to take commanding heights of the party.
For his part, Mr Osei described Nana Akufo-Addo’s victory as famous, emphatic and unprecedented in the history of the party.
“I will be available with whatever I have to support him to achieve the victory that is ours,” he promised.
Mr Osei said now that the contest was over, it was imperative for all members of the party to rally behind Nana Akufo-Addo to ensure victory in the 2012 elections.
In his concession speech, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said, “I’m not ashamed to lose to Nana Akufo-Addo” and congratulated him on his exciting and resounding victory.
He promised to put his skills and resources at the disposal of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP in order to ensure victory in 2012.
The central theme that featured in all the speeches of other speakers at the ceremony was the need for unity within the party to ensure victory in 2012.
Former President Kufuor said the election was the keenest he had seen in his 40-year-old political experience, adding that the atmosphere and the emphatic victory of Nana Akufo-Addo were a clear indication that the NPP was ready for battle in 2012.
He said people all over the world were surprised that the NPP lost the 2008 elections and urged the rank and file of the party to eschew the bitterness of the past and forge ahead in unity.
Mr Kufuor said although the NDC accused the NPP of being corrupt, the Mills administration was infested with corruption and human rights abuses, while individual freedoms had been curtailed.
Alhaji Aliu Mahama, a former Vice-President, pleaded with members of the party to forgive each other and pledge their allegiance to the flag bearer to the win the 2012 elections.
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