Newly elected New Patriotic Party (NPP) Third Vice Chairperson Nana Akomea has dismissed claims that he deliberately stayed away from the party’s swearing-in ceremony because he was disappointed with his third-place finish in the national executive elections.
According to Nana Akomea, his absence from the ceremony was caused by heavy traffic, insisting that he arrived at the venue just minutes after the swearing-in had ended.
“I got there 10 minutes after the swearing-in,” he explained.
Nana Akomea said he was not at the venue when voting ended or when the results were being collated and counted.
He explained that he only learnt of the outcome through his agents while on his way to the stadium.
“Oh, my agents were there, and then when I got there, the swearing had been done. So I knew I had taken the third position, and I was rushing to go for the swearing-in,” he said.
He further explained that by the time he and his team arrived at the stadium, the ceremony was already underway.
“They had just introduced the witness and done the swearing. Actually, when we entered the stadium, we heard because we could hear on the radio that the swearing was going on,” he said.
Nana Akomea also rejected suggestions that his absence, together with that of fellow candidate Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, was linked to the election results.
“I don’t understand how that could happen. Total falsehood,” he said.
According to him, Nana B may also have been delayed by the same traffic situation.
“I don’t know. I think Nana B was caught up in the same traffic,” he stated.
Nana Akomea said he saw Nana B when the candidates were introduced but did not meet him again until the following afternoon.
“In fact, I saw Nana B when we were introduced as candidates. After that, I didn’t see him again until the next afternoon on Sunday,” he said.
Although he arrived after the ceremony, Nana Akomea said he remained at the stadium.
When it was pointed out to him that he had therefore not been formally sworn in, he said he expected the matter to be resolved at the party’s next meeting.
“Well, remember there’s an American president who had to be sworn in twice, so that is not new. We have our first meeting as a new executive, and I’m sure I’ll get myself sworn in,” he said.
Nana Akomea, however, admitted that he was disappointed with his third-place finish, despite believing that his campaign message had received significant support from delegates.
“Oh, because, as I said, my message was well received,” he said.
He noted that although he entered the race relatively late, many delegates had expressed regret about his late entry and suggested that he could have performed better had he started campaigning earlier.
“Yes, even though I had come in late, many of the delegates expressed disappointment that I had come in late,” he said.
Nana Akomea also acknowledged that campaign expenditure could have influenced the final outcome, although he noted that spending patterns varied among the candidates.
“Let’s be honest about that. Were you outspent? It’s possible, and it’s also possible that I also outspent somebody,” he added.
