The flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has suspended his campaign tour of the Ashanti Region.
This follows the death of Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, the former First Lady and wife of the former President, John Agyekum Kufuor.
The former Agriculture Minister noted that a new date will be announced to commence his campaign tour of the Ashanti region before the November 4 presidential primaries of the NPP.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto made the announcement during a news conference in Kumasi today 2, October 2023 where he appealed to the delegates of the party to elect him as the flagbearer to lead the party to victory in the 2024 general elections.
“We have suspended our Ashanti Regional campaign tour as a sign of respect for the loss of the First Lady, Theresa Kufuor.
Mrs Kufuor died at her home in Peduase, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, October 1. She was 87.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto then urged Ghanaian farmers especially those who are NPP delegates to vote for him to win the party’s presidential primaries.
He said the majority of NPP delegates who are farmers benefited from the policies and programmes he initiated during his tenure as the Food and Agriculture Minister adding that his track record makes him the clear favourite.
“Most of these farmers I met in the various regions are also delegates and party constituency executives. The one million farmers are the ones who will bear witness to me. Just go to any farmer and ask about the impact I have had on their lives when I was Minister for Food and Agriculture. And they will confess to you, he said.
Dr. Akoto officially resigned to focus on his Presidential ambition as he wants to lead the New Patriotic Party into the 2024 general elections. He was among the top five who will be contesting for primaries on November 4.
He served as a Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region for two terms.
In Parliament, he held the position of Deputy Ranking Member and subsequently the substantive Ranking Member for the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs until 2017 when he was appointed the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
The former Food and Agriculture Minister is in fierce competition with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, and Francis Addai Nimo after the super delegates conference.