NPP promises inclusive approach to government

Accra, Dec. 12, Ghanadot/GNA-The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), expressing confidence of winning the December 28 election re-run for a new president has indicated its intention for a broad and inclusive approach to government.

Party Chairman Mr Peter Mac-Manu told a press conference in Accra that the way Ghanaians had voted in the first round required a broad approach to government, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Party’s presidential candidate had all the experience and skills of working with different political parties in Parliament.

Both the NPP presidential candidate and his main contender Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) failed to secure the constitutional more than 50 per cent of the total ballots cast with their respective 49.13 per cent and 47.92 in last Sunday’s polls.

In real terms the NPP obtained 4, 159, 439 votes and the NDC 4,056,643 for the presidential race, necessitating the run-off announced by the umpire of the election, the Chairman of the Election Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari- Djan.

Results so far declared, with the exception of the Asutifi South and Akwatia Constituencies show the NDC now has 113 out of the total 230 parliamentary seats, and the NPP 108, with four seats won by independent candidates, one for the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and two for the Peoples’ National Convention.

Mr Mac-Manu discounted what he called “the haste with which the NDC is claiming parliamentary majority,” adding that, “it would appear that true to its character of using propaganda and half truths to throw dust into people’s eyes.”

Mr Mac-Manu said simply arithmetic showed that a majority in Parliament required 116 or more seats, and the 113 seat of the NDC was not a majority of 230.

“Obviously, the claim by the NDC that they have Parliamentary majority is false”, Mr Mac Manu said, and added that the four independent candidates, had declared to join the NPP side and mad the tally for the NPP side in Parliament stood at 112.

“The NPP is poised to both the Asutifi South and Akwatia which are yet to be declared. As well, the results of Ablekuma South, Akontombra, Sefwi Wiawso and Tain amongst others which have been declared in favour of the NDC are being contested,” the NPP Party chairman said.

The NPP expressed hope that the CPP and the PNC would maintain the alliance with the NPP as it did in the last parliament, and make the NPP the only party capable of mustering a working majority in the next parliament.

Mr Mac Manu, in a recall of history said once a party took the lead in the first round ballot its victory in the second round was firmly assured.

He said the pre-eminence and leadership of the NPP in the current elections were undisputed, and called on Ghanaians to vote massively for Nana Akufo-Addo, who held Justice and Foreign Affairs portfolios and later resigned to vie for the presidency.

“As the country’s leading diplomat, he helped bring warring factions in Sierra Leone, Liberia and La Cote d’ Ivoire among others, together.
“Further, our flagbearer adds his experience in brining people of different backgrounds, traditions and dispositions together in the national interest in the formation in the 1970’s of the People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice and the 1990’s Alliance for Change.”

Mr. Mac-Manu reiterated commitment of the NPP’s agenda to deepen the air of freedom, liberty and self- confidence.

He called on the nation to protect the integrity and further development of the nation’s democracy and democratic institutions, as well as maintain and accelerate the rate of social and economic development the nation had so far achieved.

The Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, said he was starting the campaign for the re-run with a lot more decentralization and winsome message of national unity, consensus building and national integration.

He called for a rejection of rumours of not having done well among the security agencies in the special voting prior to the general voting and denounced any tribalism and vindictiveness, adding that, it was untrue he would use the security agencies to victimize people who did not vote for the NPP.

“Parliament is not going to be about majority and minority. It is about building consensus. The main task is how to work with Parliament to deliver,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.

GNA