Acclamation Of President Akufo-Addo As NPP Flagbearer

NEWS COMMENTARY ON ACCLAMATION OF PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO AS FLAGBEARER OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY

The Covid-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to political activities as well as other activities in the country. For this reason, political activities and other programmes have been slowed down making it difficult for political and other actors to go about effective campaigns in various parts of the country. This explains why the acclamation by the NPP has to be delayed until last weekend when the National Council of the NPP and other top-ranking officials of the party came together to officially acclaim President Akufo-Addo as the flagbearer of the NPP in the December presidential elections. During the programme, President Akufo-Addo and his running mate Dr Bawumia extolled the achievements of government in all sectors of the economy for which reason Ghanaians are expected to renew their mandate for another four years in line with the constitution of Ghana. This explains why the slogan “Four more for Nana to do more” has been chosen as the campaign theme for the party.

The role of political parties in modern democracy is very important. A political party like the NPP serves as a platform for the mobilisation of people who are galvanised into action in terms of voting to continue the good works that are already being carried out by a government. The confidence level of the NPP in the upcoming elections is very high not because the NPP has solved all problems in Ghana but that President Akufo-Addo and his team have worked hard over the past three and a half years to bring improvement and development in the lives of people in the country.

Serious efforts made to improve cocoa production and projects and programmes such as One District One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, the free SHS programme and the ongoing digitisation process of the economy, among others, are all examples being extolled by the party to canvas for more votes and convince Ghanaians why President Akufo-Addo and his team deserve to be given another four-year term. It was made clear during the ceremony by Dr Bawumia that President Akufo-Addo has been consistent over the years because this is the fourth time he has chosen him as a running mate. The president chose him as running mate for the 2008, 2012 and also for the 2016 elections. If for the fourth time, President Akufo-Addo has again chosen Dr Bawumia as his running mate, then it goes to show the confidence he has in his running mate as well as the healthy relationship of trust existing between the two political leaders. Whereas President Akufo-Addo deserves commendation in this regard, Dr. Bawumia on the other hand also deserves to be given some praise for giving the needed support to the president.

President Akufo-Addo has been acclaimed by his party as the flagbearer, the way is now clear for him, his running mate and the NPP to go out now to contest the elections with their political opponents. All political actors in the country ought to go about their duties in a peaceful manner so as to ensure that the December election results in incident-free political choices for the country to the admiration of people in Ghana and in the world as a whole. We, therefore, congratulate President Akufo-Addo for the confidence reposed in him by his Party to continue his good works in a manner that will push the country up to a higher pedestal of development.

BY: DR KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATION, GHANA STANDARDS AUTHORITY.