Akufo-Addo sceptical about NDC optimism
The flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has criticised President Mahama for saying that he will win the 2016 election with ease.
President Mahama at a ceremony to file his nomination forms to contest the NDC’s presidential primaries on Monday, predicted “another one-touch victory“ in the 2016 elections.
That according to him, follows the impressive performance of the NDC administration in his first term of office.
But addressing nurses at the Holy Family Nursing Training College as part of the party’s ‘Rise and Build’ tour at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, Nana Akufo-Addo was skeptical about the NDC’s optimism, considering what he referred to as the challenging economic situation in the country.
Unemployment
“We are told that this record of abysmal failure, widespread unemployment, constant failure of enterprises, high price levels and low wages will guarantee the President a one-time victory in 2016. I think he is reckoning without the people of Ghana. The people of Ghana will have something to say about that, and I am hoping that you will join the majority to say that no, we need a new direction,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.
He further assured that the NPP, when voted into power, would ensure that it rids the public sector of all forms of corrupt practices.
The flag bearer also promised the nurses ready employment upon the completion of their training.
Samuel Kyei-Boateng, reports from Akyem Oda Nana Akufo-Addo, and, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, had earlier taken Akyem Oda by storm last Monday when they were given a rousing welcome by hundreds of party supporters in the Birim Central municipal capital.
The human and vehicular traffic was so heavy that it took Nana Akufo-Addo and his entourage more than two hours from the outskirts of Oda to the conference hall of the St Luke Methodist Church, where they held a meeting with party faithful, comprising constituency and regional executives, parliamentary candidates and sympathisers from eight constituencies at the start of his “Arise and Build” tour of the Eastern Region.
The constituencies are: Oda, Asene-Manso-Akroso, Lower West Akyem, Kade, Akyem Swedru, Akwatia, Akyem Achiase and Ofoase-Ayirebi.
Everybody wanted to catch a glimpse of Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the large number of police personnel found it pretty tough controlling the thick and unyielding crowd.
Addressing the record crowd, elated Nana Akufo-Addo advised the people not only to translate their support into votes on December 7, 2016, but also convince the supporters of other political parties to vote for him and the NPP to ensure a resounding victory.
He stressed that all Ghanaians were suffering from economic hardships due to the inefficiency of the NDC government and the mismanagement of the national resources.
Coalition
Nana Akufo-Addo described the NDC’s “Agenda 50-50” for Eastern Region in the 2016 general election as a hoax.
He said: “The NDC will wage a tribal campaign in the Eastern Region; that’s why they are talking about ‘Agenda 50-50.’ We cannot allow them to do that. We have to build a coalition of all the people of the Eastern Region. Eastern Region contains all tribes in the region. “
Nana Akufo-Addo urged the gathering to take the advice of the Member of Parliament for Lower West Akyem, Madam Gifty Klenam, who spoke earlier about the need for NPP members to undertake a rigorous outreach exercise to bring the majority of inhabitants of the Eastern Region onto the victory ship of the NPP.
Dr Bawumia reiterated the need for Ghanaians to agitate for a new voters register as the integrity of the current one had been compromised since it was bloated and contained the names of many foreigners.
He said the NDC government had increased the country’s debt from GH¢9.5 billion in 2009 to GH¢90 billion currently.
Dr Bawumia, therefore, advised the people to vote out the incompetent NDC and usher in the NPP to enable them to enjoy better governance.
