The National Coalition of Floating Voters says its decision to endorse the NPP flag-bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo was meant to expose what it calls “politics of baseless lies and ethnocentrism.” The group which claims to comprise of independent electorates was disenchanted and disillusioned as a result of scaremongering perpetrated by some political groupings in the country. In a statement issued in Accra and signed by its Public Affairs Director, Benjamin Ampoma-Boaten, the group said it would do everything within the law to realise its objective of ‘Operation Rescue Ghana’. “The exceptionally negative politics of ethnocentrism embarked upon by the NDC, has a great potential of threatening the very fabric upon which our nation was founded. The NDC has conveniently pitched Akans against Ewes, knocks Akyem heads against Fantes, and is inciting Gas against the entire nation represented by the seat of Government, all in the name of electioneering,” the statement noted. The full statement as issued by the NACOFV has been published below. NACOFV Press Conference and Related Matters The National Coalition of Floating Voters wishes to state that the emphatic stance it took during its press conference to endorse the NPP candidate, Nana Akufo Addo on Thursday was a deliberate strategy to get Ghanaians awakened on the dangers we collectively face as a nation if we fail to fight the politics of baseless lies and ethnocentrism. Our cardinal aim for putting the coalition together was to provide a platform for the numerous independent electorates who are partly disenchanted and disillusioned as a result of scaremongering perpetrated by some political groupings during the recent electioneering campaigns to come out boldly to assert which way forward for our dear nation, and we resolved that to give true meaning to our motto of ‘Operation Rescue Ghana’, we should be unequivocal about the truth. That explains why our press conference, though admirable and particularly composed, nevertheless appeared in some degree combative. The exceptionally negative politics of ethnocentrism embarked upon by the NDC, has a great potential of threatening the very fabric upon which our nation was founded. The NDC has conveniently pitched Akans against Ewes, knocks Akyem heads against Fantes, and is inciting Gas against the entire nation represented by the seat of Government, all in the name of electioneering. The Coalition felt that considering what ethnic wars have done to West Africa these past few years, ethnocentric politics needs to be condemned in unapologetic terms. Desperate diseases desperate remedies require. Ethnocentrism is incurably bad and must be condemned as such! We wish to reiterate that on a scale of perfect equality based on track record of the two parties and the candidates in the areas of human rights, the economy, vision for the future of Ghana as espoused in the manifestoes; campaign effectiveness (messages, comportment of party supporters, decency in language, use of propaganda and half truths); National Unity- ethnicity, religion, and preservation of our culture); leadership qualities of the two presidential candidates i.e. Nana Akufo Addo and Prof. J. E. A. Mills (who among them was firm and in control of his party, etc); candidate’s knowledge on global affairs and marketability of candidates in the international community; decisiveness and boldness in the taking and implementation of very bold long lasting economic and political decisions, we found NPP’s Nana Akufo Addo far ahead of the NDC’s Prof. Mills. NACOFV’s decision to endorse Nana Akufo-Addo therefore was very informed. The leadership of the Coalition however wishes to express our appreciation to all our members and the general public who have expressed concerns about the press conference and also to thank the many who have called to encourage us to keep up with the good works. Reports reaching the leadership from the over one thousand two hundred (1200) volunteers so far deployed throughout the regions to assist the NPP in its campaign in strategic constituencies indicate that our message has been welcomed among young undecided voters. A special team of fifty (50) communicators have also been dispatched to selected constituencies to assist in effective political communication. NACOFV will continue to fight and encourages all Ghanaians to fight against the politics of lies, deception, ethnocentrism and baseless division. Let us rescue Ghana from destructionist politics. Vote for Nana Akuffo Addo as the best candidate to take Ghana to the promise land. Thank you. ____________________________ Benjamin Ampoma-Boaten, Esq Public Affairs Director