Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
Flagbearer aspirant of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kweku Ricketts Hagan has withdrawn from the party’s flagbearership race.
In a statement, Mr. Hagan said many of the NDC party folks are looking for a “quick return to power” as they all are rooting for a particular candidate, a trend he noticed during his campaign tour.
He also added that, as a results of the overwhelming support majority of the delegates has for that candidate, it was pointless for him to remain in the contest as he was unable to sufficiently expand his appeal.
“We gave it everything we have got, but the overwhelming majority of our delegates that we came into contact with have chosen another path, so we failed to sufficiently expand our appeal on this occasion. It is therefore pointless to continue to remain in a contest which pretty much looks predetermined”.
PRESS RELEASE
Today, I have taken a difficult decision to suspend my campaign as flagbearer aspirant for our dear National Democratic Congress (NDC) party. When we set out on this journey almost a year ago, I was very clear on what we wanted to achieve for our party in terms of reforms anchored on our principles and values of probity, accountability and social justice, to enable us reinvigorate and reposition the party in the modern era, to win future elections from a position of strength. – On the national front, if we were to have made it that far, was to provide a 21st Century leadership befitting for a 21st Century economy (which we are not) with clear vision of doubling Ghana’s economy (GDP) from almost Fifty (50) billion to hundred (100) billion USD in 4 years, to afford us the capacity to create the hundreds of thousands of real jobs for real wages that we urgently need for our growing population, especially our youth. We were also clear that the future prosperity, peace and security of our country devoid of endemic corruption will only be achieved by a leader with the economic vision, discipline and integrity that we intended to provide.
We took our message to the country especially to the NDC delegates of our party. And across the country, people who were supporting their conscience flocked to our message and felt the need for the party to move forward but many in the,party who are looking for a “quick return to power” as they put it, were all rooting for one candidate, which they feel is “well marketed and well-resourced” to deliver 2020. We gave it everything we have got, but the overwhelming majority of our delegates that we came into contact with have chosen another path, so we failed to sufficiently expand our appeal on this occasion. It is therefore pointless to continue to remain in a contest which pretty much looks predetermined. We therefore did not pick up nomination forms to advance our contest in the flagbearership race scheduled for the 26th January, 2019 set by National Executive committee (NEC).
We are confident that our campaign, while unsuccessful, offered the NDC party an alternative by focusing on issues which many think are crucial to the party in expanding our appeal and attractiveness to new people especially young people to our fold beyond our core party members. It’s been an incredible honor to be part of this flagbearership contest. I believed we run a principled and decent campaign. Thanks to all who made it possible! I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to the National council of Elders, NEC and the entire NDC family for making this opportunity available to us all. To my campaign team and all our supporters and like-minded Ghanaians who believed in our vision- I say thank you and keep hope alive! The fight for a stronger and united NDC party is far from over, therefore we will continue to carry the torch and support the party and the elected flagbearer to unite the party and work together to defeat the NPP in 2020.
Long live the NDC! Long live Ghana!
Hon. Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, MP
