NANA CROWNED

The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku has assured the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of victory in the forthcoming elections but added “when you are there, remember the people of Tema.”

The assurance was followed by an elaborate traditional ritual to honour the presidential candidate, perhaps to underscore the chief's prophesy about victory for Nana and the NPP.

The unusual prediction was made during a courtesy call on the Tema Chief by the presidential candidate and many who contested with him in the party's congress.

The chief however asked his guest not to forget the people of Tema when he ascends the highest position in the country.

“As for winning, it is a foregone conclusion. All I ask of you however is that when the time comes, remember the people of this area. Let the gesture be reciprocal,” he said amidst cheers from the personalities who turned up at the function.

He told his guest that President John Agyekum Kufuor performed a similar gesture as the presidential candidate “and indeed the man has not disappointed us. Some of our people like Ishmael have been given important positions. We expect a similar gesture from you.”

The chief pointed at the seat on which Nana Akufo-Addo sat and said “The chair on which you are seated is like my stool and so rest assured that you have won the polls. I would not stop saying it; you would win.”

The Nii was unhappy however that Tema has been denied certain facilities, adding that the canoe beach in the area has not received adequate attention from past governments.

He recalled how farmlands belonging to the people of Tema were replaced by industries leaving the people with no place to engage in their vocation.

Nii Kraku pleaded that sons and daughters of Tema be given board membership of state institutions because the people in the area, he pointed out, are not all fishermen.

“We have many lettered sons and daughters who can hold such positions” he pleaded.

Earlier, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had greeted his host and told him in fluent Ga that “I am here to introduce myself to you as my party's candidate for the next elections. I am here with many of my colleagues with whom I sought the candidacy of the party in the forthcoming polls.

“I had earlier called on Nii Ga and sought his blessing as someone born in Swalaba who ended up growing up at Nima,” he said.
He told his host that Ghana has witnessed tremendous progress since the advent of the Kufuor administration.

“We are not saying that Ghana is a paradise. There are still a lot of things to be done but considering where we came from, the country has made many strides”.

He said that it is his wish to continue from where President Kufuor stops.

Nana entreated the Chief and his elders to encourage their people to go and register when the voters' register is reopened in May.

Sounding confident about victory in the next polls, Nana said “I know that if truth is allowed to prevail in the next elections, I am sure of victory.”

The NPP candidate however pleaded with the people and the rest of Ghanaians to let the polls be peaceful and devoid of bloodshed.

“It is not necessary to shed any Ghanaian blood because of an election. It is an election and not fisticuff,” he said.

He ended his speech by stating that “at the end, it is going to be Nana who would emerge victorious”.

Some prominent party personalities who accompanied Nana on the trip were Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Sheikh I.C. Quaye and Prof Mike Oquaye.

By A. R. Gomda