Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Nana Greets NDC Over Aliu Mahama


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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