In less than 72 hours, a total of 203,439 delegates in the 275 various constituencies across all 16 regions of the country in addition to the head office of the New Patriotic Party at Asylum Down, Accra will elect its flagbearer to represent the party in the 2024 general elections.

One of the four contestants canvassing to lead the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 general elections is the former Minister of Food and Agriculture under President Akufo-Addo’s administration and former Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Honorable Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto announced his intention to run for president of the Republic of Ghana in the general elections of 2024 on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket after resigning from his position as Minister of Food and Agriculture.

According to the former Minister of Food and Agriculture, the decision to lead the New Patriotic Party as the flagbearer was conceived immediately after the 2020 elections due to the party’s ‘poor performance.

He indicated that the morale within the New Patriotic Party is weakened based on his diagnosis and assessment leading his resolve to contest the party’s presidential primaries to salvage the situation.

To lead the entire country’s change if elected president, Dr Afriyie Akoto has laid out seven (7) campaign policies, with the paradigm shift in agriculture serving as the focal point of his program.

Even though survey results by Global Info Analytics indicated that Dr Afriyie Akoto and colleague, Francis Addai-Nimoh were not given a ‘dog’s’ chance in the NPP Presidential race, Dr Owusu Afryie Akoto remained confident of winning the race.

In addressing a press conference to finalize his campaign ahead of the party’s Saturday polls, Dr Akoto expressed optimism about winning the party’s primaries and becoming flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 general elections.

According to him, monitoring and independent research by his team reaffirmed his conviction and therefore recounted that victory is on the horizon.

He thus urged the delegates to remain steadfast and not allow themselves to be enticed with monetary inducements.

“Dear delegates, please look beyond any tempting one-off monetary enticements and think about the future of the party, your children, and grandchildren. Stand with me on the great UP tradition on Saturday. In this regard, the party is ensuring that all delegates can attend the voting centres to cast their votes without fear or intimidation.”
Dr. Owusu Afryie Akoto

While the latest poll and political analysts predict a fierce contest between the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong to lead the NPP, how would Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and his pillars of career accomplishment particularly in agriculture be replicated to attain the required votes to become flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries.

It obvious the ambition of Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto to lead the New Patriotic Party as the flagebearer for the 2024 general eletions is fueled by his personal convictions.

Giving hope is good but unfounded optimism is unwise. There is absolutely no substantial evidence of the former legislator clinging to victory in the Saturday’s polls considering the turnout of the Special Delegate Congress on August 26 2023. and his poor performance in the surveys conducted thus far.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto’s first attempt to become MP for the Kwadaso constituency did not materialize in 2004 but entered Parliament in 2009 until he lost his parliamentary election in 2015. While at Parliament, Dr Afriyie Akoto was the Deputy Ranking Member for the Committee on Food and Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs.

In January 2017, Dr Afriyie Akoto was appointed by President Akufo-Addo and subsequently approved by Parliament to become the Minister for Food and Agriculture until his resignation on Tuesday, January 10 2023.

He is credited for designing and implementing President Akufo-Addo’s administration flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme, which was launched on 19 April 2017.

Critics of the policy have reiterated its failure due to skyrocketing prices of food items due to soaring inflation, poor quality seeds and fertilizers procured for the programme and false submission of claims hence, the need for a review for its sustainability.

However, Dr Afriyie Akoto fired at critics for failing to see the intended impact of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.