Enthusiasm up, NPP confab venue to be filled
Enthusiasm is already high, with everything set for the 15th extraordinary annual national delegates conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) today.
Advertisement
On a visit to the venue, the Sunyani Coronation Park yesterday, the Daily Graphic saw party faithful making all the efforts to mount the rostrum where key speakers of the conference will stand to deliver their messages.
All indicators point to the fact that the 5,000 seating-capacity park will be filled to the brim by the delegates and enthusiastic supporters who will throng the venue to listen to speeches by the party’s flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President J.A. Kufuor.
The conference will be held on the theme: “Arise For Change 2016” to round off the party’s activities for the year and prepare the minds of its members for the task ahead in 2016.
Flag bearer’s tour
Already, Nana Akufo-Addo and his entourage are at the Ahafo section of the region paying courtesy calls.
They are expected to call on the chiefs and people of Acherensua, Hwidiem and Kenyasi Number One and Kenyasi Number Two before arriving in Sunyani for tomorrow’s event.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Nana Akufo Addo’s running mate, was, however, at the Sunyani Central Mosque where he worshipped with fellow Muslims on Friday afternoon.
The walls of the Coronation Park are awash with posters of the party while traders are briskly selling the party’s paraphernalia to the few people who have already arrived for the congress.
Other Trending Stories
Traffic is gradually building up near the vicinity of the Coronation Park and it is expected that vehicles will not be allowed to use streets in the area tomorrow.
As at the time of filing this report, the media had not received their accreditation to cover the event.
Regional party officials explained that all accreditation issues were being handled in Accra and that the media men and women who applied for accreditation would get their cards this morning.
Controversy
Yesterday morning, rumours were rife in Sunyani that the traditional authorities would not allow the conference to be held because the party had not informed them about the function.
However, the Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr Alfred Ofori Annye, told newsmen that a letter had been sent to the registrar of the Sunyani Traditional Council informing them about the conference.
However, the Krontihene of Sunyani Traditional Area, Boaman Bofotia Boa-Amponsem, denied receiving a letter informing the council about the conference.
“We do not know anything about the conference”, he said, but added that the council would do nothing to stop the conference, as was being peddled around.
Tension
There is tension between the regional executives of the NPP and the Sunyani Traditional Council over comments made by the Omanhene of Sunyani, Nana Bosoma Asor
Nkrawiri, when President Mahama paid a courtesy call on him at his palace.
He is reported to have stated that he would mobilise people in the region to provide 70 per cent votes for President Mahama.
The response by the Regional Chairman of NPP, Mr Asoma Kyeremeh, seemed not to have gone down well with the traditional authorities, who demanded an apology, which is yet to be rendered.
Notwithstanding this controversy, all is set for the congress, with some personalities of the party already in town.
Writer's email: nanadu63@gmail.com/emmanuel.gyamerah@graphic.com.gh
#GhanaVotes2016