In all, four persons contested in the elections which has been described as one of the fiercest presidential contest in the annals of the party’s history, and they included; Ken Ohene Agyapong, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
Before Nana-Addo hands over NPP mantle of leadership to Dr Bawumia at the party’s result declaration rally at the Accra Sports Stadium, President Akufo-Addo said the NPP still remained the best choice for Ghanaian as such all members of the NPP must work hard to ensure that the party is retained.
He said the 2024 presidential election was not going to be a walk in the park, however, with unity among the leadership as well as the rank and file, the party could make history by breaking the eight.
The visibly elated President said, “with unity and determination, the party will defeat the NDC and John Mahama for the third consecutive time.”
He said Ghanaians could not afford to hand over the leadership of the country back to former President John Dramani Mahama and charged on all members of the party to ensure unity to secure victory come 2024, stressing that “Ghana cannot afford the return of the NDC especially under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama.”
President Akufo-Addo commended the party for the peaceful manner in which the election was conducted.
“I want to thank every single NPP person here. For the last 16 years to 2007, 2010, 2014, 2020, you have conferred your confidence in me to lead this great party… you have honoured me, honour I cannot ever forget. You have allowed me to serve the party and through the party to serve the people of Ghana. I have done my best, but I still have one more task to do and that is with all my strength all my energy to help the new flag bearer, help Mahamudu Bawumia to win election of 2024,” he said.
On his part, the General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, said the election of Dr Bawumia was not only historic, but also broke the jinx of a non-Akan leading the party.
“Not long ago in this party, someone made a statement that when it comes to NPP, there’s no way a person from the north can be elected as the flag bearer for the party.
“Today, what has happened is history. The NPP is no more and can never be tagged as an Akan party because today we have a flag bearer who comes from the northern part of the country that shows the natural character of the NPP,” he said.