The Nation Newspaper

Tag: New Patriotic Party (NPP)

  • Buhari congratulates Ghana President-elect

    Buhari congratulates Ghana President-elect

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo, on his historic win of the December 7 Ghana presidential election.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also felicitated with the Government and people of Ghana, the National Electoral Commission, and candidates of political parties, for the decorum, maturity and peaceful conduct of the election that produced a winner from an opposition party, who was contesting for the third time.

    As a scion of one of the biggest political families in Ghana, and with the lessons learnt from previous unsuccessful attempts preceded by years of service to the country, most notably as foreign affairs minister, President Buhari believed Akufo-Addo is widely experienced and skilled in leadership to build on the legacies of President John Dramani Mahama.

    The Nigerian leader extolled the statesmanship and great leadership qualities of Mahama, who came into power at a trying period for the country with the passing away of former President John Atta-Mills, and kept pushing for a better life for all Ghanaians, and strengthening diplomatic relations with countries in the sub-region, especially Nigeria.

    He particularly commended the incumbent President for the great courage to call his opponent and concede defeat, stressing that leaders must always honour their pre-election pledge to accept the results of polls as the will of the people.

    President Buhari was also optimistic that the future of African development rests on building strong political, democratic institutions, ensuring free, fair and credible elections, and respect for the sanctity of the ballot.

    He urged the President-elect and other winners of the parliamentary elections in Ghana to be magnanimous in victory while losers should explore peaceful and legal mechanisms to challenge the outcome of the polls where necessary.

    The President noted that the greater interest of the country and the stability of the sub-region should be uppermost in the minds of all stakeholders.

    He wished Ghana a smooth transition of power, and looks forward to working with the new President.

  • Ghana Polls: Opposition calls on president to concede defeat

    Ghana Polls: Opposition calls on president to concede defeat

    Ghana’s main opposition party on Thursday said it had a strong lead in elections and called on President John Mahama to concede defeat,comments which had been dismissed as “treasonable” by the incumbent’s campaign team.

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) said its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, had won 52 per cent of the vote according to its own tally of Wednesday’s presidential poll, against 44.8 per cent for Mahama.

    The Electoral Commission said it had not certified any results in the closely fought race to lead the West African nation that has seen a series of peaceful transfers of power.

    However, figures shown by television and radio stations showed the opposition making gains in both races.

    “These are results that were declared at the polling stations. I am calling on the president to concede defeat,’’ NPP campaign chief Peter Mac Manu said.

    A senior official of the ruling party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, countered that Mahama was “comfortably ahead” and asked his supporters to remain calm.

    “The results are still trickling in and the call and declaration by the NPP are irresponsible and treasonable because it can throw this country into chaos,’’ he added.

    Ghana is one of Africa’s most stable democracies and voters have rejected the government of the day twice since 2000.

    Until 2014, the country also had one of Africa’s most dynamic economies, though growth has slowed in part due to a fall in the price of its commodity exports.

  • Ghana Polls: Contestants seek electorates’ vote

    Ghana Polls: Contestants seek electorates’ vote

    Ghanaians started lining up at voting stations on Wednesday to elect a president and parliament, in polls dominated by a three-year economic downturn that led to heavy job losses and price hikes.

    President John Mahama is running for a second four-year term in the West African nation rich in gold, cocoa, diamonds, aluminium, bauxite and recently discovered oil.

    Mahama is competing with six other candidates for the presidency, but his fiercest rival is Nana Akufo-Addo, the leader of the largest opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Reports say the incumbent president remains popular in the nation of 26 million people, which was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence in colonial Africa, in 1957.

    The 58-year-old made major progress in improving Ghana’s infrastructure by building schools, health facilities and roads.

    However, many voters held Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) responsible for a debilitating three-year energy crisis that led to a 10 percent drop in economic growth between 2011 and 2015.

    They also held him responsible for the sharp rise in electricity, water and petrol prices.

    Akufo-Addo, 72, promises to use Ghana’s new-found oil to create jobs and push industrialisation in all economic sectors, including agriculture.

    Over 15 million Ghanaians are eligible to cast their vote at one of the 29,000 polling stations until 1700 GMT.

    They will also elect 275 parliamentarians for the next four years.

    If no presidential candidate gains 51 percent or more of the vote, the election will go into a second round.

    Results are expected within 72 hours after voting ends.

  • Ghana parliament rejects change to election date

    Ghana parliament rejects change to election date

    Reports from Accra on Friday reveal that the Ghana’s parliament failed on Thursday evening to secure the two-third majority needed to change the presidential election date from Dec. 7 to Nov. 7.

    An unnamed source in parliament said that the Electoral Commission wanted to bring the vote forward to allow for a second round to be held if necessary and still have time for a smooth transition before January 7, when a new government must be sworn in.

    The source said that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) voted against the measure, arguing it would reduce the time available to the commission to organise the election.

    Meanwhile, Mike Oquaye, the Legal Secretary National Democratic Congress (NDC), said that the idea for a Nov. 7 election is good and many politicians had worked hard on it.

    The ruling National Democratic Congress and the opposition are competing for advantage ahead of what is expected to be a tight election between President John Mahama, who is running for a second term, and opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Ghana’s 2008 election went to a run-off and the NPP challenged Mahama’s victory in the 2012 election, leading to a protracted case before the Supreme Court.

    The case reinforced Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.