The New Patriotic Party has revealed that they requested for the postponement of their Presidential Candidate’s turn at the Evening Encounter because the party’s manifesto was not ready.
The Communications Director for the NPP, Nana Akomea, said “we have requested the postponement because our manifesto is not ready”
Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM the Communications Director for the NPP, Nana Akomea, said: “we have requested the postponement because our manifesto is not ready”
He explained that “the manifesto, is a bit large and we want to trim it a little. We also want Nana Addo to be prepped.”
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Nana Akufo Addo was earlier scheduled to appear on Tuesday, July 5 as the third and final presidential candidate to take his turn at the Evening Encounter under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). It was subsequently postponed to August 9. The IEA issued another statement on Thursday indicating the Nana Akufo Addo’s turn at the Evening Encounter has been postponed indefinitely.
But Nana Akomea said it takes a while to complete a party’s manifesto and they will release it when it is complete. “The manifesto has to go through some validation process. We will release it when we're ready,” he said.
He also argued that the release of the manifesto has delayed because they do not want the NDC to “steal” their ideas.
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“I can mention many instances where the NDC has stolen from our manifesto. At the last election, we released the manifesto on 29th August. and the NDC released theirs afterwards.”
Asked whether that will prevent the NPP from campaigning, he said “whether the manifesto is ready or not, we should be able to engage the electorate. We are planning the next stage of the regional tours.”
The Evening Encounter provides an opportunity for Presidential candidates of parties with Members of Parliament to open up on an abridged version of their manifestos.
A series for Vice Presidential candidates has also been scheduled while presidential candidates of parties with no representation in Parliament have their turn in a special event.