‘It’s difficult; I’m first to admit’ – Akufo-Addo

Things are difficult, President Akufo-Addo has admitted. In a brief interaction with journalists voting in the New Patriotic Party’s special delegates conference on Saturday, 26 August 2023, Mr Akufo-Addo ssid: “It’s difficult, I’m the first to admit it”.

“I have said it several times, but at the end of the day, I believe when the moment comes, Ghanaians will reflect on who best to get us out of this difficulty and take us to the next stage”, he said.

He was hopeful the internal voting process would be free of hitches.

The conference is to whittle down the 10 flagbearer aspirants to five.

They are Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, former Attorney General Joe Ghartey, former Minister of Food and Agriculture Owusu Afriyie Akoto; and former General Secretary of the NPP Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.

The others are Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Offinso North MP Kofi Konadu Apraku, former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, former Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh and a former presidential staffer Kojo Opoku.

Ahead of the polls, the presidential election committee of the party, said it is “committed to conducting free, fair and transparent elections without any bias, fear or favour”.

In its protocol measures update to the delegates ahead of today’s internal poll, the committee also warned the delegates against capturing and publicly displaying their preference, warning it is a criminal offence to do so.