Born on March 23, 1965, Francis Addai-Nimoh is a 58-year-old flagbearer candidate of the NPP, making him the youngest contender in the race.
He previously served the Mampong Constituency in the Ashanti Region as a Member of Parliament for two terms, during the Fourth and Sixth Parliament distinctively.
Addai-Nimoh has been a staunch member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and surprisingly secured the third position in his initial attempt to become the NPP’s flagbearer in 2014. Subsequently, he wholeheartedly supported Nana Addo’s candidacy in the 2016 General Elections.
Despite his dedication to the party, some individuals were disappointed that he was not appointed to any role within the Nana Addo-led administration, leading to the perception that his skills were underutilized within the NPP.
Addai-Nimoh has outlined a seven-point development agenda to transform Ghana should he become president, focusing on areas such as Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Health, Entrepreneurship and Employment, Infrastructure Enhancement, Public Service and Culture Improvement, and Accountability.
Agriculture and Food Security: Addai-Nimoh envisions a Ghana that can sustain itself without relying on imports for food.
Education: He aims to harness technical and vocational skills, ensuring a more skill-oriented educational system.
Health: He advocates for a preventive approach to reduce foreign exchange expenditure on drug imports.
Entrepreneurship and Employment: Addai-Nimoh seeks to make agriculture more appealing to the youth, thereby creating employment opportunities.
Enhancing the Infrastructure of the Nation: His vision includes significant improvements in energy, housing, water, and sanitation. He emphasizes the importance of maintenance culture and pledges to complete all abandoned projects, considering them as valuable state investments.
Enhancing Public Service and Culture: He emphasizes the need for a result-driven government that delivers efficient and effective services. He calls for scrutiny in ministerial appointments to ensure competence.
Accountability: He vows to scrutinize issues like abuse of power, procurement processes, and mismanagement to ensure a corruption-free state.
Addai-Nimoh attributing his decision to be part of the race to three main factors: preliminary research conducted by his team, advice from party elders, and a strong call from party members and the rank and file. He believes that his professional background and values can significantly improve the country.
Addai-Nimoh contended that selecting the Vice President as the party’s candidate may lead to an election loss, as they are part of the incumbent government. He points to past instances, such as the candidacies of John Atta Mills in the 2000 elections, Akufo-Addo in the 2008 elections, and Mahama in the 2016 elections, to support his argument. He believes that the NPP needs a fresh face like his to “Break The 8.”
Expressing his confidence in winning, he said “Elections are not won by big names” but by hard work in endearing oneself to the delegates and articulating your vision.
Furthermore, Addai-Nimoh emphasized that his contributions to the NPP were not publicized, as he prefers to focus on working for the party rather than boasting about his deeds. He encourages party members to consider not only what they have done for the party but also what the party has done for them.
As he looks forward to the NPP’s primaries, Addai-Nimoh believes that financial influence, integrity, and intelligence are crucial factors for delegates in their decision-making. He suggests that financial influence should not be the sole criterion, urging delegates to prioritize integrity and intelligence.
Beyond November 4th
An Addai Nimoh-led NPP governance will be a far-fetched thought but well, it will be an agriculture-centered government.
Should there be a runoff, he will likely side with Bawumia as he has consistently been reserved in downgrading the government’s performance as some other candidates have done on the campaign trail.
However, he is on record as having urged the government to cut down expenditures, especially on fuel and government official travel expenses.
He emphasized that three indicators must interplay well to make the NPP Break The 8; Unity, Government Performance and New face.
Francis Addai-Nimoh brings a strong focus on agriculture and seeks to emphasize practical skills in education. He has a background in engineering and public administration, and he is confident about his chances in the upcoming primaries.
He received his education at Navorongo Senior High and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from KNUST, along with an Executive Master’s Degree in Public Administration from GIMPA. He hails from Mampong-Nyinampong in the Ashanti Region, is a devout Christian, and is married with three children.
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