Tema, Dec 18, - President Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s open advocacy against the concentration of power in
himself, at the just- ended New Patriotic Party (NPP) extraordinary national
delegates’ conference, has drawn applause from the Tema Metropolitan Chief
Executive.
Felix Mensah Nii Annang-La, the
Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive pointed out that Nana’s open campaign against
making the
President leader of the NPP
showed how modest he was and that would become exemplary for subsequent
leaders.
“Power is sweet and enjoyable and
if His Excellency was interested in annexing all powers, he would have backed
the
proposal to make every sitting
NPP President, starting with him, the automatic leader of the party, but he did
not.
“It takes total modesty and a
spirit of service to resist such alluring prospects; the President has really
given us a great example in this country,” Annang-La said on the sidelines of
the conference in Kumasi.
He said the position of the
President was a good precedent that would also serve to keep out dictators from
the party as that position preserved important checks and balances that ensured
that dictators did not emerge in the party.
President Akufo-Addo, on Sunday,
advocated strongly against three proposed amendments to the ruling party’s
constitution, one of which was a proposed amendment that would automatically
make the President, rather than the Chairman of the NPP, leader of the party.
If the proposal had gone through,
President Akufo-Addo would have made history as the first ever concurrent
President of Ghana and Leader of the NPP, but he resisted the move strongly and
rather campaigned against it along with two other proposals.
“We’ve agreed that three
controversial amendments are going to be withdrawn. The first is the amendment
making it impossible for dual citizens to hold party office and contest
elections. That amendment will be a disaster for our party, it will lead to the
collapse of our overseas branches and it is not constitutional. I’m aware of
the problem that the amendment seeks to cure, but we have to deal with it in
another manner.
“The second proposal that has
been withdrawn is the one that gives the MPs the right to appoint members of
the constituency executives. I am strongly opposed to the measure, and it is
going to be withdrawn. The third amendment to which I am absolutely opposed is
one that seeks to make the presidential candidate, president of our country,
the flagbearer and leader of the party;
that motion is against all precedent and traditions of this party, and I am
going to ask Congress to, if it will not be withdrawn, oppose and reject it. We
do not need that amendment,” President Akufo-Addo said.
The Tema MCE said he was humbled
by the President’s principled position, adding that the advocacy was worth
applauding because ‘it is a good precedent that will serve the good of the
party for a long time to come.’
He also praised President
Akufo-Addo for advising them on unity and harmony at the programme.
GNA
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