A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Francis Addai-Nimoh, has urged the party’s delegates to vote for competence in the forthcoming presidential primaries as they hope to break the eight.
Mr. Addai-Nimo opined that the considerations to elect someone to lead the party in 2024 should be based on the prospective leader’s capability and not identity.
He was answering questions on his quest to become president on Angel FM/TV’s Anopa Bofo morning show last Friday following his official announcement of his candidature on Wednesday, February 1, at the Osu Presby Hall in Accra.
According to the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong Constituency in the Ashanti Region, breaking the eight is achievable but requires a competent leader to effect the change.
“At times whenever it comes to a deciding moment to choose people to occupy a vacant position, let’s not eye only few who are familiar to us [delegates]. We should be vigilant and able to weigh the candidatures on board on counts of competency,” he said.
Asked what makes him think he has the competency among the aspirants who had declared their bid, Francis Addai-Nimoh, said his human relations and knowledge in his political career are apt and make him fit for the role.
He added that although he had no appointment in the ruling party’s administration since it came to power in 2016, his prowess cannot be undermined, because if he had been given equal opportunity, he would have left a mark.
“In this times that we [NPP] have targeted breaking the eight, who are we presenting? and that is why I have declared myself as the new face for the poll,” the presidential hopeful told Wonder Gee, host of the show.
He defended that presenting a new face is the only way the party can achieve its vision because Ghana’s historical antecedents had proven severally that once the incumbent party elects someone within its government ranks as flagbearer, its end result is defeat at the general election.
Mr Addai-Nimo would be facing a keen contest from former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen who resigned in January to pursue his presidential ambition. Mr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the immediate past Agric Minister and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, have all declared their bids for the flagbearer slot.
Mr Addai-Nimoh who lost the NPP’s presidential primaries in 2014 will however be hoping to rewrite the story in his second attempt.
