Traffic in the central business district in Tamale came to a standstill last Sunday as hundreds of vehicles and motorbikes meandered their way to the Jubilee Park where enthusiastic New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters had gathered to welcome their presidential hopeful, Nana Akufo-Addo, to the capital.
The politically charged metropolis saw some sympathisers lining up the major streets to catch a glimpse of the ecstatic flag bearer whose face could be seen out of the sun roof of his vehicle as he waved to his admirers who had come from far and near.
The teeming supporters who were draped in NPP paraphernalia, sang party songs and chanted “Nana oh Nana” to the sound of gong-gong. While some engaged in acrobatic displays with their bikes and vehicles, others exhibited the popular Kangaroo dance.
Later at the park, where the atmosphere was electrifying, Nana Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation to the people for coming in their numbers to demonstrate their desire for continuity.
“I can feel a big wind of change in this area. Make sure that this change favours the NPP in the coming general election because we are certainly moving forward; we will never look back again,” he intimated.
The presidential hopeful cited some of the laudable projects and programmes embarked upon by the ruling government and gave the assurance that under his government, he would build on such initiatives to help improve the lot of the people.
“For instance we are determined that every child in Ghana be given the opportunity to get education and technical skills to any level he or she can attain, “he indicated.
On disparity in development between the north and the southern parts of the country, Nana Akufo-Addo promised to bridge the yawning gap by creating job opportunities that would engage the energies of the youth and discourage them from migrating to the south for menial work.
He said his government would commit enough resources to modernise agriculture to enable the north reclaim its enviable position as the food basket of the country.
The flag bearer further announced that under his leadership a Northern Development Authority would be established to expand development infrastructure in the area.
The authority would also work towards the expansion of educational infrastructure to build the human resource base of the north to accelerate growth and construct dams and irrigation facilities to ensure all year round farming.
“This is the way forward for our nation and that is the way I will go when you give me the mandate to become the President of this beautiful country of ours,” Nana Akufo- Addo stated.
He, therefore, entreated the people to put their trust in the party since it had the track record of good governance.
The presidential hopeful called for peaceful polls, saying that there was no need for anybody to engage in any brawl or shed blood, stressing that protecting the prevailing peace and unity in the country should be the paramount concern of all.
“We are one country, one people; we should not allow politics to divide us, irrespective of our ethnic or religious background,” Nana Akufo-Addo entreated.
He also urged officials of the Electoral Commission to ensure free, fair and transparent elections to produce a credible winner and a gracious loser.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, also called on the people to emphasis issues that would strengthen their bond than matters that would divide them.
Other speakers included Messrs Alan Kyeremanten, Osafo Maafo, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and Boakye Agyarko; the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris; the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Alhaji Boniface Abubakari Saddique, and Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women’s Affairs.
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