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| At Long Last Osafo-Maafo Declares |
1/5/2007 |
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After months of speculation as to whether he would confirm his intention to contest as flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party for the 2008 general elections, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Member for Akim Oda and until the reshuffle of April 28, Minister for Education and Sports, yesterday ended the "obeko anaa onko rumours” by declaring his intention of seeking the NPP''s diadem.
“I will definitely be a candidate,” Mr Osafo-Maafo announced in a press statement perfectly timed to coincide with the party"s annual conference, which begins at the Eredec Hotel, Koforidua, today.
“Let me assure you once more that I stand ready to serve mother Ghana in the challenging and exciting years ahead as the leader of the NPP,” said the MP in a release dated December 30, 2006 but news of which was broken Thursday evening by Accra’s Hot FM.
Though, he was among the first to come off the blocks in the NPP race, which is looking more like a marathon in terms of its longetivity and sheer number of contestants, his popularity appeared to have taken a major hit when he was unexpectedly dropped as a Minister.
Indeed, the man once considered as among the top three probable candidates in 2005 suddenly disappeared from the radar, as opinion poll after opinion poll discounted him as a frontrunner.
Some analysts, like Ben Ephson, even speculated that the once-acclaimed best finance minister of Africa was likely to cede his bid and transfer his apparently sizeable cache of logistics to support the candidacy of his younger friend, Dan Botwe, who was also sacked by President John Agyekum Kufuor in last April’s ministerial reshuffle. Below is the full press release:To my fellow members of the New Patriotic Party and to all the people of Ghana, I offer my best wishes for the New Year 2007. This is the time to take stock of the past and hopefully plan for the future. I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good and bad times; which I believe you all do in your daily lives.
As a people, we ought to see every day as a new beginning, a new lease of hope, a new opportunity to use our God giving [sic] talents to make our communities, our nation and our world a better place to live.
I have followed with keen interest the desire of my Supporters, Well-Wishers and Sympathisers to hear from me on my political future; and whether I will seek the flagbearership of our Party (NPP) to continue my service to the Nation.
I want to assure all my Supporters, Friends, Sympathizers and the Nation at large that I have been quite [sic], but very far from idle; my vision for my party and for the Nation and my plan of action would be unveiled very soon. I will definitely be a candidate.
Our individual or group ideals can either unite us or throw us into a state of factional and partisan discord. I believe that the most important good we can do for our Nation, as we approach the 50th Independence Anniversary celebration will be to forge ahead together in unity as one; reflecting on the common National Interest which must be made to supercede partisan and parochial interest. All our efforts and energies must be spent on forging a new National alliance for Political stability and Economic emancipation.
We, in the NPP should bear in mind that as the Party in Power, the celebration of Ghana’s 50th Independence Anniversary must be made to foster unity and harmony.
Indeed the occasion should be used to demonstrate the unity the country showed after the Black Stars qualifier and the marvelous performance at the 2006 World Cup.
However divergent our approaches, strategies and methods for attaining our National ideals and goals may be; this diversity should not be seen as a weakness, but as a source of strength.
Let us all endeavour to face the New Year with renewed determination and hope in our commitment to rededicating ourselves, our efforts in rebuilding natural National unity as we stand united as a Nation to confront the common enemies of Poverty, Disease and Ignorance. Let’s make our individual contributions to lift the living standards for all our citizens.
We must learn from the past and have a clear vision for the future. Let us therefore usher the New Year with the determination to live and work together as one people. Whatever may be our Political or Religious convictions; whatever part of Ghana we come from we can and we must move forward with one objective that is to make this a Nation of Peaceful, Prosperous and Happy people.
I wish all our fellow country men God’s blessings and guidance as we enter the New Year with renewed promise and hope. Let 2007, be the year of Pride in the Ghanaian Identity.
Let me assure you once more that I stand ready to serve mother Ghana in the challenging and exciting years ahead as the leader of the NPP. May God bless mother Ghana!! (Signed) Hon Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Member of Parliament Akim-Oda 30th December 2006
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