I’ll ensure peaceful elections - President Akufo-Addo

I am committed to ensuring that the nation delivers a peaceful, free and fair general elections on December 7 this year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has said.

He said the election will provide opportunity for the people to make a decision of who governs them in peace, devoid of intimidation and violence, and that he, as the President, was determined to make that possible.

"I am determined to make the necessary arrangements to guarantee the peace, security and stability of our country in the 2020 general election,” the President added.

He further pledged to defend the country’s democratic institutions and values established by a tradition which he said he represented and that it would not be in his tenure that such a tradition would be disturbed.

President Akufo-Addo made the commitment at the commissioning of the Ekumfi fruits and juice factory at Ekumfi as part of his tour of the Central Region yesterday.

The $15-million factory has the capacity to process 10,000 tonnes of fruits per hour, yielding some 10 tonnes of juice. The Ghana Exim Bank provided $10 million.

The factory forms part of the government flagship programme - One-District, One-Factory (1D1F).

Industrial transformation

The President said the factory was yet another example of the government determination to promote industrial transformation of the country.

"The 1D1F is designed to transform the industrial landscape and build the capacity of local entrepreneurs and existing enterprises to produce high quality products and services for the domestic markets,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo added that the 1D1F would also create employment, particularly for the youth in rural and vulnerable communities and improve their standards of living.
He said the government would continue to promote public, private partnerships (PPP) to establish similar factories, which would be globally competitive and take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

President Akufo-Addo commended the managers and coordinators of the factory for their contribution to the industrialisation and transformation agenda of the government. 

He also expressed appreciation to the chiefs and people for acknowledging the effort of the government to better their lives.

The President later inspected the construction of a landing site at Mumford.

Excitement

Hundreds of ecstatic residents thronged the factory to welcome the President to the area with some shouting “thank you”.

A security officer, Opayin Yaw Sam, 62, said he was happy about the factory and would support efforts to bring more development to the area.

"We have not seen such a thing in our area before. We thank the President for bringing the factory here," he said.

Another resident, Mr Anthony Appiah, 72, said: "We are happy. Pineapple growers now have a market and the young people have jobs and the communities are more peaceful now."

For her part, a seamstress, Ms Victoria Aidoo, said she now has more customers because they have been gainfully employed.

Appreciation

The Omanhen of Ekumfi Traditional Area, Odeafo Akyin VIII, expressed appreciation to the government for ensuring the realisation of the factory which he said had greatly impacted the lives of the people in the communities.

The Omanhene, however, appealed for further support to the factory and development projects in the area, including the fixing of deplorable roads.
He conferred the title “Nana Oyeadzepa Nokwarfo I” on President Akufo-Addo for his good and visionary leadership.

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