I will hand over power to NPP, Akufo Addo says

When his term ends in January 2025, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured party members that he will cede power to a successor from his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to reports, the president said those things at the NPP’s last rally before the eagerly awaited by-election in the Kumawu Constituency of the Ashanti Region.

“I’ll hand over power to NPP, Nana,” read the banner headline at the top of the pro-government Daily Guide’s May 22 edition.

By making this statement, Akufo-Addo is implying that the NPP will win the 2024 election and so ‘break the 8’, a phrase that the party invented in order to achieve its historic goal of winning a third consecutive term in office under the present constitution.

The president’s last mention of passing the reins to a successor came during a prayer and thanksgiving session at the National Mosque in Accra following the party’s National Leadership elections.

Bryan Acheampong, the minister of agriculture, recently made headlines when he asserted that the NPP would never cede power to the NDC and threatened the party with becoming the primary opposition if it attempted any nonsense.

Voters will select a replacement for Philip Atta Basoah, who passed away on March 27th while still serving his third consecutive term as a member of parliament.

Ernest Yaw Anim represents the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and Kwasi Amankwaa is running for the NDC. Two independent contenders with the last name Kwaku Duah are also running.

The previous week has seen a flurry of political activity in Kumawu as prominent members of the NDC and NPP held rallies there to solicit support for the open seat.

The EC has said that it is prepared for Tuesday’s vote.