Gifty Twum-Ampofo, the newly elected parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Abuakwa North constituency, on Friday, March 4, paid a courtesy call on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at his Nima residence, after her victory in the parliamentary primary of Tuesday, March 1.
The new Abuakwa North parliamentary candidate was accompanied on her visit by fellow aspirants in the just-ended primary, regional and constituency executives, as well as members of the party from the constituency.
Gifty Twum-Ampofo, in her brief remarks, assured the NPP presidential candidate that, though she is relatively newcomer on the political scene, she is ready to strengthen the party’s grip on the constituency and increase the margin of votes for the NPP, first in the March 29 by-election and subsequently in the November 7 election.
She also thanked constituency executives and her fellow contestants for the support they have given her in the aftermath of the primary, stressing that the level of unity in the constituency is a sure sign of victory for the party in the impending elections.
On his part, after calling on the gathering to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the late Hon. JB Danquah Adu, Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the Chairman, Douglas Martin Asare, and executives of Abuakwa North for the speed and determination with which they elected a new parliamentary candidate for the constituency, noting that “the grief and sorrow in the constituency [following the death of JB Danquah Adu] would have made party activities difficult. But you, the executives, have shown that you are on top of the job.”
Assuring the new parliamentary candidate of his full support, Nana Akufo-Addo urged the new parliamentary candidate to be guided by the fact that “you are coming to work for the wellbeing of your constituents. That is your task, and that should always be at the back of your mind.”
He continued “JB was not an ordinary MP. You are succeeding him and this should tell you that you have a big task ahead of you. Everything I have heard so far points to the fact that you can do the job, and that is why the people of Abuakwa have elevated you to this position, to be their representative in Parliament. We must win this by-election decisively to show Ghanaians that this is and will remain an NPP stronghold.”
To the parliamentary aspirants and constituency executives who accompanied Gifty Twum-Ampofo, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that “by this gesture, you have shown love for the party and love for your new candidate.”
NPP is winning election 2016
With some 8 months to the holding of the general election, Nana Akufo-Addo stressed to the gathering that “this election is for the NPP, and, no matter what, we are winning the election of 2016.”
He cautioned, however, that “we are not winning this election for ourselves in the NPP, but for the people of Ghana, so that we can bring improvements and real transformation in their living conditions.”
Nana Akufo-Addo added that “some claim they are ‘transforming lives’, but Ghanaians are not seeing or feeling their so-called transformation. They claim they have constructed a road here, but, when you go to the supposed site you find nothing there. We in the NPP, however, are coming to work to bring about real transformation in the lives of Ghanaians. We are coming to restore Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity. We, in the NPP, must, therefore, work hard for victory in this election.”
An NPP victory in Abuakwa North, he stressed, will be achieved once there is a sense of unity amongst polling station and constituency executives, further charging Gifty Twum-Ampofo to “make sure there is solidarity between you and your fellow contestants as well as with the party’s executives. You can do it – I have no doubt of that.”
Agenda 50/50 a mere slogan
On behalf Eastern Regional executives, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, the NPP 1st vice regional chairman, reiterated the commitment of the entire membership of the party in the region to rendering the NDC’s ‘Agenda 50/50’ to nothing but “a mere slogan”.
“We are assuring you that we are giving you nothing short of 70% of total votes in the Eastern Region, and we are beginning with Abuakwa North. We want to make history, and make you President of Ghana.”
Present at the meeting were party personalities who happened to be at the Nima residence when the new parliamentary candidate called on Nana Akufo-Addo, like Otiko Afisa Djaba, NPP National Women’s Organiser; Peter Mireku, NPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East; Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei, NPP parliamentary candidate for Akuapem North; and Saratu Atta, Executive Assistant to Nana Akufo-Addo.