Nana Akufo-Addo at the funeral of the late Aliu Mahama
Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By
William Yaw Owusu
Accra, Tuesday November 20, 2012
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,
flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has commended the government highly
for the way in which it handled the death and burial of former Vice President
Alhaji Aliu Mahama.
He also expressed his profound
gratitude to the entire nation, especially the people of Tamale for what he
called “the tremendous solidarity and support that was given to our party over
our much lamented late Vice President.”
At a news conference at his residence
in Accra yesterday, Nana Akufo-Addo said, “The government showed the necessary
sensitivity and leadership in the burial of the late Vice President. I thank
the President and the government in the manner in which they have been able to
stand in solidarity with those on the other side of the political divide in
times of mourning.”
“What we saw since his death has been
very uplifting even in the midst of the tragedy. The way people from all walks
of life came together to mourn him and give him a befitting farewell, what
happened in Tamale yesterday is something that will live with me for a very
long time.”
He said Alhaji Mahama “occupied a very
unique place in our country’s history and politics,” adding, “He was the first
Vice President of Muslim background to get to such a high place in our national
life.”
“It meant that through him for the
first time, at the highest levels of government, the preoccupations and
concerns of those of our brothers and sisters of those who have Muslim
orientation were felt and were present in the highest level f government.”
Nana Akufo-Addo said Alhaji Mahama’s
mere presence on the John Agyekum Kufuor ticket was a symbol of unity in Ghana,
adding “We are a nation of different ethic grouping and also religious
persuasion and if it is possible that our government structure should reflect
that diversity in a manner that also promotes the unity of our nation, that is
a very positive thing and Aliu Mahama served both functions and roles in our
politics.”
“Dagomba and a Muslim who partnered an
Ashanti Christian is a very powerful signal to the people and to the world that
we were not prepared in Ghana to make distinctions about where you come from
and what you believe in to be a barrier in forging ahead as a nation. I
understood what happened to be an endorsement of some of the things that I am
talking about.”
He said, “I saw at the Independence
Square yesterday when all people of different political persuasion came
together to bid him farewell. This did not diminish the cordiality of our
political relationship.”
He praised the late Alhaji Mahama for
the manner in which he supported his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and
said “he put at the disposal of the NPP his resources time and energy to ensure
that Bawumia succeeds. He was with him all over the place to contribute his
part of the NPP agenda.”
With election 2012 fast approaching,
Nana Akufo-Addo said, “We are in a very delicate period in our national
history” and called on all to ensure that the process remains peaceful on December
7 and beyond.
He said it was critical to find a way
to isolate what he described as ‘a core group’ who would want to destabilize
the process and added that all the stakeholders were keen to ensure that the
election goes ahead without any hitch.
“We need authentic declaration so that
everybody will find it easy to work with the results.”
On today’s second round of
Presidential Debate to be organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs, Nana
Akufo-Addo said he was ready for it.
When asked if he was aware that some
candidates were finding excuses not to attend by citing the death of the former
Vice President, he said, “I am not aware the debate has been cancelled. I have
prepared myself. If they say we should not come I would comply but I haven’t
heard anything on the contrary. I have the programme in my diary and I am
looking forward to it.”
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