Dr Akoto calls for level playing field ahead of Nov 4
A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has asked the leadership of the party to ensure a level playing field devoid of biases and open support for a particular candidate in the November 4 National Delegates Congress.
He said all aspirants will wholeheartedly accept the outcome of the contest if they believe the election was fair and not manipulated to favour a particular candidate.
According to him, the losers will also offer full support to the winner of a free, fair and transparent election.
“We will need each other. Therefore, all must be treated well, “he noted.
Speaking in an interview with a cross section of the media at his campaign office in Accra, Dr. Akoto further tasked the leadership of the elephant family to trigger the conflict resolution mechanism within the party.
He emphasised building bridges by bringing everyone on board in the Party’s forward march to break the 8-year governance cycle in 2024.
Dr Akoto said events leading to the Super Delegates Conference and its aftermath where several concerns have been raised going into the November 4 National Delegate’s Conference casts a slur on the Party’s image.
Dr. Akoto, who has worked in the UN Systems for over 18 years, noted that the earlier those concerns were addressed, the better.
For instance, he argued that reprisal attacks on supporters of aspiring flagbearers must be condemned by all while leadership of the party moves to unite the presidential hopefuls; even before the November 4 election is held.
“The chances of our great NPP going into election 2024 are clear. We stand to win the election. Therefore, acts of intimidation, reprisal attacks on individuals, and machinations against one another must cease forthwith.
“As I have already alluded to, we can’t go into the 2024 election on a limping leg. We must close our ranks now, “he noted.
It was the first time Dr. Afriyie was publicly commenting on the party’s flagbearerrship polls, having placed 4th in the Super Delegates Conference held on Saturday, September 26, 2023.
The former two-term Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso constituency said he was worried that the unity of the party ahead of the 2024 general elections was in limbo, noting that it was about time all efforts are put in place to address it.
He posited that much as the situation places a lot of burden on the national executives of the Party to address it, all those who matter in the NPP, including all flagbearer hopefuls, must also give a helping hand toward uniting the UP tradition.
“Acts that seek to provoke opposing flagbearer contestants should not be entertained. All our campaign messages must be decorous to attract floating voters.
“Let us preach what we can do to develop NPP and Ghana, not things that will bring us down, “Dr. Akoto underscored.
