Free SHS has benefitted me immensely - Woman testifies during First Lady’s visit

A middle-aged woman at the Agbogbloshie Market in Accra last Monday stole the show when the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, visited the place to thank them for their support for the NPP over the years.

The First Lady was also at the market to canvass for support for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the NPP Parliamentary Aspirant for the Odododiodoo Constituency, Abdul Manaf Nii Adjei Sowah.

The woman, who upon seeing the arrival of the convoy of the First Lady started uttering words of praise to welcome her, attracted the attention of the Master of Ceremonies (MC), Perpetual Asante, who, after the First Lady settled down in her chair, called the woman and gave her the microphone.

The woman, amidst shouts of joy started telling her story of how she was sick and was on admission at a hospital when her first son finished JHS.

“I did not know where help would come from as a single mother and, therefore, my son and I became dejected, thinking that was the end of education for my boy”.

“Lo and behold the free SHS was introduced and my son gained admission into a senior high school where I did not pay anything”.

“Now, my boy is working while a second son has also completed the free SHS and is with the armed forces,” she told the First Lady.

People’s welfare

The First Lady in her message, thanked the market women for their support for the past eight years.

She said the NPP was a party that had the people’s welfare at heart and, therefore, called on them all to “make no mistake” and vote massively for the NPP on December 7.  

Mrs Akufo-Addo said the NPP, since it took over power, had brought about lots of developments in the areas of schools, hospitals and roads, which she said, were all to help improve the lives of people.

She, therefore, called on the electorate to vote for Dr Bawumia as he was the only one who could continue with the good work of the party.

She said Dr Bawumia was God-sent and, therefore, voters should not let him slip through their fingers.

The First Lady also implored them to vote for Alhaji Manaf, who although not yet an MP had undertaken a lot of developmental projects for the constituency including the construction of seven boreholes and also provided soft loans to traders.

Alhaji Manaf, on his part, called on the women to come out and vote come December 7, saying 90 per cent of all the votes in the constituency were centred around Agbogbloshie and, therefore, they should not disappoint him.

He said as a trader himself, he is standing for elections for the people of Agbogbloshie as he understood them better.

The NPP aspirant also called on them to vote for Dr Bawumia so that together, they can bring many developmental projects to the constituency.

Writer’s email: rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh