The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has lashed out at his boss President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, saying he can manage the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) better as leader.
Meeting with selected delegates of the NPP in the Northern Region to intensify his bid to become the party’s flagbearer in 2024, Afriyie Akoto said he is the most “dominant in the party” who can sweep the votes in the Northern Region for the party.
In total defiance of the code of conduct issued by the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Akoto was caught on tape campaigning vigorously in Tamale, the capital of Northern Region.
The Presidential hopeful selected five delegates each from the 18 constituencies of the Northern Region and assembled them at the popular Gilbert Hotel. Delegates waited for nearly five hours while the Minister was in the traditional capital of Dagbon to pay homage to the Ya Naa.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto (Arrowed) in the meeting with the delegates
On his return from Yendi, the minister went straight into the meeting room where he told participants of his decision to run for President.
“For the first time we had more than 40% of the votes in this region. It means that if we look well in the party we could defeat the NDC in this region. I want it to happen,” Dr Akoto said to a resounding applause.
He added: “I am confident that the way you’ve shown solidarity with me, this party will survive and will be stronger under my leadership in 2024… I’ve been working with some of you for eight and seven months and I’ve reports from traders and all kinds of people and the reports is very consistent that Owusu Afriyie is dominant in this region. I hear it all the time.”
The minister explained that his decision to run for President is to salvage what he termed “the neglect by the top of the grassroots”.
He charged participants to support his bid, stating that he could do better than the President in managing the party.
Listen to excerpts of Afriyie Akoto’s address at the meeting here.
“We’re on the path to change direction for this country and party and if we really believe in me who is here talking to you direct, give me your support,” Dr Akoto said.
The minister gave each of the five delegates representing the 18 constituencies an amount of GHC2000 each totaling GHC180,000, the delegates confided in Dailymailgh.com.
He is expected to meet constituency executives Monday 6 December 2021 at Modern City Hotel.
Listen to the audio below:
Source: Daily Mail GH