A founding member of New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr
Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, on Monday said the victory recorded by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last weekend was a win for the masses.
"Nana Akufo-Addo's victory is for the party and all those who through very nerve-wracking circumstances, had to wait for several hours to know who eventually won. For the first time in the history of the party, the grassroots have genuinely picked their leader in a peaceful manner all round the country."
"All this while, they knew that, for once their votes were going to count. What we as the NPP have shown to the world is that we recognise the importance of those who get our leaders to where they are. This is the beauty of Nana Akufo-Addo's win," Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Nana Boafo, Press Aide of Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, said by allowing the grassroots membership of the party to vote, who through this new method had been the real kingmakers, the party had shown the way in how democracy could be beneficial for all and not for a selected few.
"Once again, the NPP has really shown that when it comes to upholding the tenets of democracy, we are masters at it. We had our shortcomings though, but at the end of the day, the NPP once again showed the way."
"This particular exercise, which is a novelty in Ghana's political history I believe, would be emulated by the other political groupings in the country. This method would make it possible for the grassroots to pick a
leader who is their real choice. Indeed, I can see the grassroots base of other political parties making this demand from their respective party leadership. In so doing, a voice would undoubtedly be given to the voiceless," he said.
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, Former Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, said the peaceful nature of the elections and the near zero per cent of incidents recorded throughout all 10 Regions, showed that the persistent hammering on
the fact that the NPP weren't as united as their detractors wanted them to believe, was a charade and only intended to sway their minds off track.
"The friendly manner in which the elections were conducted really proved a point that we are a party that is grassroots based. It is very
heartening to observe that all the other contestants conceded defeat and pledged their unflinching support to Nana Akufo-Addo before the official declaration was made. This shows clearly their commitment and love for the party. It sent a strong signal to our detractors," Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said.
He noted that: "The NPP is a broad based party. We have a duty to the people of Ghana. If we do this to the latter, coming back to power in 2012 won't be far-fetched. The campaign for 2012 starts now and this call for the strengthening of the internal party structures and broadening the grassroots participation in Election 2012".
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said currently Ghana was in a messy state and it was only through the NPP that the over 22 million Ghanaians could be rescued from the ineffectiveness of the President Mills administration.
The statement said Ghanaians viewed the win by Nana Akufo-Addo as theirs since they knew that if there was any form of restoration of hope, it
was only through Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP that it could be realised.
"I can feel the joy in the hearts of those other Ghanaians who are yet to decide which way to vote in Election 2012. It is nothing but excitement. After that all important 49.77 per cent gained in 2008, the much needed two
or more lies with the ordinary floating voter who is yet to decide and I trust that with Nana Akufo-Addo's leadership qualities, they are far more
than anything convinced that they've met their saviour, one that can rescue them from the harsh treatments and malfunction of the Mills administration," he added.