I�m A Candidate Of Choice - Addai-Nimoh Assures NPP Delegates

Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, the dark horse in the presidential primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has wrapped up his campaign for the 2016 flag-bearer race of the NPP after visiting a number of constituencies in Accra and Tema. The National Congress of the party takes place in 276 polling stations across the country. Throughout yesterday, the flag-bearer hopeful, who is daring to shock the established names - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen - in tomorrow�s presidential primaries by winning the slot, addressed constituency delegates in some constituencies Tema including Tema West, Tema East and Central and proceeded to some parts of Accra, including Madina, Obom, Dome Abra, Amasaman and Ablekuma West. The Special Electoral College of the party on August 31, 2014, reduced the number of aspiring presidential candidates from seven to five. Two of the shortlisted candidates, Mr Joe Ghartey, Second Deputy Speaker, and Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw, MP for Asyogyaman, however, withdrew from the race shortly afterwards. Giving a rundown of his campaign in a telephone interview yesterday, Mr Addai-Nimoh, the legislator from Asante Mampong, said delegates would serve the party better should they settle for him on account of what he offered rather than stick with a so-called popular candidate. According to Mr Addai-Nimoh, who will be voting from his constituency, his neutral disposition towards the unhealthy rivalry between supposed camps and personalities which threatened the unity within the party must influence the choice delegates would make during tomorrow�s contest. He said, �this is NPP�s time to return to political power in 2017, as the current NDC administration appears incompetent, tired and riddled with corruption,� but repeatedly warned that �it can only be possible with a united front.� From Wa Central in the Upper West Region, the 49-year-old civil engineer told cheering supporters that, �I may be young in age, but I am not young in leadership.� �I stand as a unifier, a competent leader with the temperament and energy to lead the party to victory in the next elections.� Fulani man In his view, the acrimony that had characterised the campaigning was unfortunate since it had the potential of driving away neutrals and the youth from the party. Referring to himself humorously as a Fulani, he said, �when two cattle fight, it is the Fulani man that can separate them� in apparent reference to the much-touted rivalry between Mr Kyerematen and Nana Akufo-Addo. �However, I promise you a leadership of selflessness, humility, honesty and hard work so that eventually, when power comes into our hands, the fruits of our leadership would trickle down to the lowest level to the benefit of all of us,� he said.