The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, believes most of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopefuls have the potential and what it takes to “break the 8”.
Two cabinet ministers, namely Alan Kyerematen and Owusu Afriyie Akoto of the trade and agriculture ministries respectively have so far tendered in their resignation letters to President Nana Akufo-Addo to pursue their presidential ambitions.
Speaking to Beatrice Adu on the Big Bulletin on Asaase 99.5 Accra on Tuesday (10 January), Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said even though one of the candidates stands out, he is unable to mention his name yet.
“I can say that many of them that I have assessed have the potential of helping us break the 8 maybe there may be a primo among them,” he said.
“In terms of competence and qualification, I can vouch for many of them who have come up, like Bawumia, Alan Kyerematen, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Boakye Agyarko… Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Agyepong, Kofi Konadu Apreku….,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has made a passionate appeal to the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to help him achieve the last feat of his political career, which he says is “breaking the 8” and handing over to another NPP President on the 7 January 2025.
President Akufo-Addo said it is his hope that the party will remain united to prosecute the agenda of his remaining term and to go on to win the 2024 general elections.
President Akufo-Addo with NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ntim
“I want to end by making one appeal to you, I want you to help me to achieve the last great political feat of my career in Ghanaian politics, that on 7 January 2025, I will go to Black Star Square and hand over the baton to our next NPP President of the Republic who we would have chosen, supported and brought to victory,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“Victory in 2024, that is our goal, that is our task and that by the Grace of God, we will achieve,” he added.
Battle ready
The national chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, in his address, recalled the names of all NPP party stalwarts who have served the party in various capacities, commending them for their contributions to the success story of the party.
He solicited for the support of all members of the Party wherever they may find themselves, in ordered to build a united and strong party that will be battle ready to “break the 8” and “to win election after election”.
“After this 30-years of our existence, it must be our resolve to build a proper party membership register to enhance our collective ownership of the party, a party that is united and battle ready to “break the 8” Stephen Ntim said.
The policy of the NPP as a party, is to liberate the energies of the people for the growth of a property-owning democracy in Ghana, with right to life, freedom and justice, as the principles to which the Government and laws of the land should be dedicated in order specifically to enrich life, property and liberty of each and every citizen.
Chairman Stephen Ntim with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, at the Thanksgiving Service
The aim of the party is to bring together like-minded citizens of the country so that they may strive for Freedom and Justice by the appreciation and protection of human rights and the rule of Law through the practice of true democracy.
A stable, peaceful, united and democratic nation dedicated to the promotion of the welfare, freedom and prosperity of its citizens, forms part of the party’s vision.
On the principle of good governance and prosperity, the party aims to build a country whose governance is imbued with the principles of liberal democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and social justice, and that the key to creating prosperity for all is to unleash the energies of the private sector through the development of an entrepreneurial free enterprise economy.