I’ll Take UK Vote – Apraku

FORMER MINISTER of Regional Integration and NEPAD and a presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, has stated that he will win the single vote allocated to the United Kingdom branch of the party.

He said his conviction was based on the fact that his vision and plans for the party and the country had gone down well with the party’s delegates in London.

Speaking in an interview on Nkosuo Radio in Kumasi, Dr. Apraku said the warm reception accorded him by the party’s delegates when he visited London recently to canvass support for his presidential ambition was a clear indication that they would endorse him as their flagbearer.

Sounding optimistic, the presidential aspirant maintained that he was experienced, competent and capable of handling the highest position of the land, adding that his contributions to the party would boost his chances of winning.

He appealed to delegates to consider and elect him presidential candidate for the party, to engage the presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in an electoral showdown.

The Akomadan-born Member of Parliament (MP) described as false, a publication in a national daily that he intends joining forces with Nana Akuffo Addo, another contestant in the race, should there be a need for a second round, saying it was those who had lost hope in their campaigns that were envisaging a second round at this early stage.

He indicated that the publication was meant to throw dust into the eyes of the public, adding, “It is to divert our attention from the fact that they are finding their campaigns difficult.

“I am winning hands down in the first round,” he stated, noting that he had never contemplated joining forces with any of the aspirants.

“How can a potential winner like me go to someone for alliance?” he asked amidst laughter, stressing that he could win the race without help from any of his competitors.

Touching on his relationship with Nana Akuffo Addo, Dr. Apraku contended that all the aspirants including Akuffo Addo were his friends, and that he was ready to support any of them who would emerge winner, but insisted he would be the eventual winner.

“I stand for the betterment and wellbeing of the party, so I will not hesitate at all to support the winner of the race to ensure victory for the party,” he said.

On the recent opinion polls conducted by some national dailies, Dr. Apraku said those polls were wrong and did not reflect the true picture on the ground, alleging, “If you pay money they can publish one for you”.

He said aspirants who had faith in the media polls were living in a dreamland, maintaining that contrary to what the media was predicting, he was the front-runner in the race.

On whether as an Ashanti trying to replace another Ashanti in the person of President Kufuor would have negative repercussions on his chances, Dr. Apraku said tribalism would not play a role in deciding the next president of the country.

“The country at this moment needs a competent and hardworking person like me to take over from President Kufuor so as to sustain our current path to glory, therefore tribalism does not come in.”

According to him, the delegates would vote for a competent, knowledgeable and patriotic person who could bring development and sustain the peace of the country, stressing that his character and attributes outscored that fact and as such, was the right person to continue with the good works of President Kufuor.

From Fred J. A. Ibrahim Jnr., Kumasi