Nana Akufo-Addo presidential candidate for the ruling NPP is optimistic his party will make the necessary inroads in the Tain constituency election in order to retain power. He expressed his optimism on Wednesday at his residence in what is his first public encounter with the media, after the EC declared the results of the December 28 election run-off. The party trails the opposition NDC by some 23,000 votes after it garnered 4,478,411, in the election runoff. Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the NDC polled 4,501,466 votes. Contrary to calls by some opposition members for Nana Akufo-Addo to concede, the NPP presidential hopeful is not the least perturbed by the daunting task ahead of him. Reports say party bigwigs have already been dispatched into the Tain constituency to begin vigorous campaign for the January 2 decider. Nana Akufo-Addo expressed regrets over what he described as deliberate attempts by the opposition NDC to prevent his polling agents to monitor the polls in the Volta Region, adding elections must be held in the right manner in order for the right person to be elected. He hinted the party has gathered enough evidence of electoral malpractices and irregularities in the Volta Region which they will present to the EC. He reiterated his confidence in the ability of the EC to conduct a free and fair election, but suggested some inherent flaws in the electoral system must be addressed with a sense of urgency. Akufo-Addo condemned acts of intimidation and harassment he says were unleashed on his supporters and appealed to supporters of the NDC to exercise restraint. “No single Ghanaian blood should be shed over this election,” he cautioned The presidential candidate was flanked by his running mate, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and Prof. Mike Ocquaye with dozens of expectant party supporters waiting patiently at the entrance of his residence. Story by Nathan Gadugah