President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is displeased with certain contenders in the flagbearer race of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who have been criticizing his government.
Speaking in a video from a recent gathering, the president expressed his perplexity over why certain individuals aspiring to represent the NPP in the presidential elections on December 7, 2024, would choose to criticize his administration.
He inquired how the contenders, who are openly criticizing his government, plan to persuade the people of Ghana to support the party in the upcoming 2024 elections if they persist in condemning his administration.
“I don’t see what we gain by attacking the record of our own government. When you do that, then you become the party candidate, what are you going to tell the people?
“That oh, it was Akufo-Addo who mislead you and mismanage affairs. I will be different. Even though I am NPP. I’m still under the elephant sign but I’m different.
“The people of Ghana will be that gullible? No, let us this be serious,” the president said.
Akufo-Addo, therefore, urged members of his party to stop speaking ill of his government and propagate gate its good works.
“So, the question is I think that if we’re talking about the record of the government, my understanding is that every NPP person, communicator, whoever you are… it’s your duty to try and defend that record and make sure that the people of Ghana buy it.
“Because at the end of the day, once this presidential primaries is over, that (the record of his government) is going to be the issue before the country,” he added.
10 people would be contesting in the NPP presidential primaries which are slated for August and November 2023.
A super delegate conference would be held on August 26, 2023, to reduce the number of contenders to five while the main primaries would be held on November 4, 2023, to choose the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
The ten candidates include Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; a former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen; Kwadwo Poku, an energy expert; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey; a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto; a former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; a former MP for Offinso North, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; and a former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko.