“I’m Stronger” Nana Akufo-Addo

• Posted on June 21, 2013June 21, 2013
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The man supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prefer to call ‘President-in-waiting’, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, made a triumphant entry into the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra yesterday after a trip outside the country.

Contrary to speculation by his opponents that he was sick, Nana Akufo-Addo said he was rather strong asking the supporters to continue to keep faith with him.
This was after Nana Addo, the NPP Presidential candidate for the disputed 2012 elections, had returned from a trip to the United Kingdom where he had private engagements and used the opportunity to see his doctors.

A day after he left the country, speculation became rife that he was in a critical condition and had to be stretched to the airport before being flown outside to receive medical treatment with some virtually declaring him dead.

He, however, arrived in the country on Wednesday evening in the company of his wife, Becky.

Party faithful had initially wanted to meet him at the Kotoka International Airport to welcome him back home, an offer he and the leadership declined because they claimed it would not be in the public interest.

Supporters, who still had interest in seeing the man, were accordingly advised to go to his Nima residence to welcome him yesterday.

But plans seemed to have changed since news went round in the early hours of yesterday that the Nana Addo had resolved to address the anxious party supporters at the party headquarters, less than five minutes walk from his house.

As early as 7:00am, people had started gathering at the NPP headquarters draped in the red, white and blue colours of the party.

Ecstasy

By 10:00am, the forecourt of the headquarters and the street in front of it had been taken over by supporters amid drumming and dancing and the popping of champagne with music blaring from speakers mounted on vehicles.

The crowd went haywire when the highly anticipated arrival of Nana Addo was announced an hour later.

Nana Addo arrived in the company of party bigwigs including his Campaign Manager Boakye Agarko and Director of Operations Lord Commey.

Before he could alight from his car, Nana Addo’s vehicle had been swamped by anxious supporters some of who tried to catch a glimpse of him while others shook hands with him.

Nana Addo in turn responded to the cheers with a wave at the crowd.

When he got the opportunity to address the crowd, Nana Addo thanked Ghanaians and his party faithful for their continuous prayers and support, saying that his doctors had given him a clean bill of health, to a rapturous applause.

While away, he said “I heard of the prayers you were saying for me and it was a major morale booster for me; I thank you very much for your good intentions. It is part of the reasons why I am now stronger than before”, he told the anxious crowd.

“You know that, we have not finished with the task we set for ourselves and by all means I am confident that the good Lord has good plans for us and sooner than later it shall come to pass for all of us to be relieved for the country to move forward”, he assured.

Nana Addo then went into a closed door meeting with members of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Present were party chiefs including NPP First Vice Chairman Fred Oware, former Mayor of Accra Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Deputy Communications Director Sammi Awuku, National Organiser Muctar Bamba, National Women’s Organiser Otiko Afisa Djaba, Nasara Co-ordinator, Abubakari Sulemana.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu