<<Print>>

Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, one of the five persons shortlisted for the October 18, 2014 delegates congress of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), says he is currently holding crucial strategic meetings with his national team members from all 270 constituencies to evaluate last Sunday�s elections. He told the Daily Graphic that until a decision was taken at the strategic meeting, he was still in the race to lead the party in 2016. Mr Nimo, who is the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, described himself as the �David� in the NPP race, �a new lad that has appeared on the block� and said after going back to the drawing board to review tactics and strategy, �we will come out with the details on the way forward.� Results At its Super Delegates Congress on Sunday, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo polled 598 votes out of 740 ballots cast, representing 80.78 per cent, with his closest contender, Mr Alan Kyerematen, obtaining 59 votes, representing 7.98 per cent. Mr Addai-Nimoh and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey, obtained 22 votes each, which is 2.98 per cent of total votes cast. Mr Osei Ameyaw had 16 votes, which is 2.17 per cent, to pick up the last ticket to the October 18 national delegates conference. Former Information Minister, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, had 13 votes while former Trade Minister, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, secured just 10 votes, representing 1.76 per cent and 1.35 per cent respectively. This means that the two could not make it to the second stage of the race. The 49-year-old civil engineer said the decision of the 740 special delegates could not be entirely representative of what would pertain when the 140,000 delegates cast their votes. Attributes Mr Addai-Nimoh pledged to enter the race with the commitment to serve with humility, hard work and honesty to seek the welfare of the people of Ghana and inspire them to attain unprecedented levels of development. Delegates Asked how he was able to make it to the first five despite claims that he was an underdog, Mr Addai-Nimoh explained that the delegates took their decision when he interacted with them and they also considered his work as MP. �The people have done their checks and background investigations about my conduct and life and seen that I have the potential to lead the party and consequently Ghana�, he said. He made a passionate appeal to the 140,000 �kingmakers� of the party to remain calm and assess the situation in the party and pay heed to all five aspirants before selecting one to lead them in the 2016 election. Unity Mr Addai-Nimoh called on the leadership of the party, members and supporters to remain united in their diversity and continue on the track of harmony and always bear in mind that �attaining unity is a process and not an event�. He called for cordiality among all members of the party to position the NPP in good stead to execute the agenda of winning political power after the congress had elected one of them to lead in 2016. Fairness Mr Addai-Nimoh was highly optimistic that the process leading to the October 18 delegates congress would be marked by �transparency, fairness and equity� and together the party would select one person to secure victory in 2016.