“I prefer an old intelligent president than a young incompetent one” – Anthony Karbo

• Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Former National Youth Organizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Anthony Karbo has described as bizarre suggestions that the 2012 presidential candidate of the party is too old to contest the 2016 general elections.

According to him, considering the present socio-economic conditions in the country, age should not be the yardstick to measure someone he described as a visionary leader ready to salvage the situation.

The debate about Nana Akufo-Addo’s age and his ability to campaign ahead of the 2016 general elections began shortly after he declared his intention to contest the flagbearership position and lead the NPP in 2016 for the third conservative time.

Many especially the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) have argued that Ghana does not need a ‘Mugabe’ -old man- to be president.

But Anthony Karbo on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme said such argument is baseless because neither the NPP nor the 1992 Constitution stops Akufo-Addo from contesting elections because of his age.

According to him, most successful political leaders including former South African President Nelson Mandela won political power at an old age but did marvelously well for their countries.

Anthony Karbo intimated that Ghana now has a young, vibrant young man as president and yet Ghanaians are wallowing in abject poverty.

“I prefer an old intelligent president than a young incompetent one. If the person is 100 years and I can take my children to good schools, access healthcare, bridge the gap between the north and south country, I will vote for him” he stated.

The former NPP Youth Organizer said the conduct of the NDC is hypocritical because the party in 2000 marketed and campaign vigorously for the late Atta Mills to become president.

“We must move our politics away from the personalities and look at his vision. The issue about age is non-consequential”

Anthony Karbo said it is time dedicated and visionary men like Akufo-Addo take up the mantle and re-build the nation.

“At Akufo-Addo’s age, all he craves for is to serve his nation and bring relief to the suffering masses” he pointed out.

Adwoa Gyasiwaa