One of the shortlisted flagbearer aspirants of the New Patriotic Party, Francis Addai Nimoh has confirmed he will contest the party's October 18 primaries.

Mr. Addai Nimoh said in a statement Monday: “I am deeply moved by the trust that has been placed in me and I accept the challenge with humility. It is a path that has been trodden by only a few great and formidable men of our Party upon the foundation built by our even greater founding fathers: Danquah, Busia, Dombo, Baffour Osei Akoto and others”, 

The Mampong Constituency Parliamentarian who polled 22 votes in the Special Delegates' Conference held on August 31 said, he will lead the party to power in the 2016 general elections when the delegates give him the nod among the remaining four candidates.

At the Super Delegates' Conference, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo polled 598 votes out of 740 ballots cast, representing 80.78%, with his closest contender, Mr Alan Kyerematen, obtaining 59 votes, representing 7.98%. 

Addai Nimoh and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey, obtained 22 votes each – representing 2.98% of total votes cast.

Mr Osei Ameyaw had 16 votes, which is 2.17%, to pick up the last ticket to the October 18 national delegates conference.

Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former Information Minister, had 13 votes while former Trade Minister, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, secured just 10 votes, thereby crushing out of the race.

However, Joe Ghartey voluntarily opted out of the race subsequently.

Read below Francis Addai-Nimoh’s full statement.

First of all, I wish to thank delegates of the Special Electoral College of the New Patriotic Party for short-listing me as one of the five persons to contest for the flagbearer position of our great party.

I am deeply moved by the trust that has been placed in me and I accept the challenge with humility. It is a path that has been trodden by only a few great and formidable men of our Party upon the foundation built by our even greater founding fathers: Danquah, Busia, Dombo, Baffour Osei Akoto and others.

I congratulate my fellow contestants in this race. I know that it is our individual and collective desire to heed to the call of Ghanaians for an NPP led government - a truly caring government that will give hope to the aspirations of each of our 25million citizens.

Of close to 60 years of Ghana’s existence as a nation, our tradition has only had the opportunity to be in power for about 10years. In these years, Ghanaians have had more than just glimpses of how great the nation can be from a determined leadership, and Ghanaians are yearning to see this great party back in the helm of affairs.

By the grace of God, I intend to lead our party into power when the delegates of our party give me the nod on the 18tn October, 2014.

The democratic culture which our party believes in thrives on competition, the tolerance for divergent views and the willingness and ability to play by the rules. This ensures our unity, the integrity and credibility of the party before the Ghanaian electorate whose mandate we shall be seeking come December, 2016.

 As we head towards the 18tn October, 2014 congress with our eyes firmly fixed on the General Elections, I thank all who have encouraged and supported me thus far and assure our party’s delegates of a clean, ethical and successful campaign to deliver power to the NPP come December, 2016.

Long live Ghana

Long live the NPP

God bless us all!

Signed

Hon. Francis Adtiai-Nimoh Flagbearer Aspirant