Becky Storms Accra Markets
WIFE of the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has called on the public to vote massively for the NPP and her husband, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the impending December polls for continuity in development.
Speaking at separate gatherings at the Kaneshie, Agbogbloshie and Konkomba Timber Markets in Accra, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said judging by the achievements of the Kufuor Administration, the NPP was the best choice for the people of Ghana.
“Vote for the best choice. NPP is the right party to lead this country,” she told the market women who were so much delighted about her visit.
She told the women at the Kaneshie Information Centre that if her husband was given the nod to rule the country, she would ably aid him in championing the cause of women.
She disclosed that she was going to use her office as the first lady to also promote and intensify girl-child education in the country.
Mrs. Akufo-Addo urged the public to come out in their numbers to register when the voter registration starts, in order to secure their franchise which would enable them to vote.
Before addressing the market women at Kaneshie, she first paid a courtesy call on the Kaneshie District Police Commander, Superintendent Idrisu Abu Yakubu and the Station Officer, C/Inspt Emmanuel Appenteng, who welcomed them to the market.
The Deputy Managing Director of Accra Markets Limited, Edmund Kofi Duffour Addae, used the opportunity to appeal to Mrs Akufo-Addo as well as wives of other aspirants to urge their husbands and their followers to tread the path of peace.
He noted that it was important that Ghanaians were assured that come December 8, 2008 when the polls are over, the country would be as peaceful as ever.
He observed that since the market was a ripe place for political activities especially in a season such as this, it was expedient on their part as managers of the market not to be partisan.
“Our doors are therefore opened to all who wish to use the market for any activity to enhance their campaign,” he said, adding, “we do not take sides or discriminate”.
Kofi Duffour observed also that Ghana should not have the need for international observers to determine whether or not the elections were free and fair, and cited America as an example of a nation which does things on her own without foreign pressure.
Whilst most of the women chanted appellations and praise of the ruling government, there were a few who maintained that the government had not been beneficial to them and called for a change.
At the Timber Market, a group of young men were infuriated at the sight of Mrs. Akufo-Addo, who was flanked by other high profiled women like Mrs. Addo Kufuor, Mrs. Victoria Afrifa and Mrs. Obetsebi Lamptey.
The youth lamented that the NPP had not done them any good but rather brought untold hardships upon them.
They maintained that Nana Addo's promise of making higher education free was untrue and misleading since even the developed states like America could not boast of such as programme.
When DAILY GUIDE questioned them about their choice in the December polls, they said bluntly that they wanted the opposition NDC back in power.
Others maintained that NPP as well as the NDC government had not been too favourable, but others still noted that they preferred NPP since it was God that prospers a nation and not any individual or governments.
One common thing that characterized the market tour, which could be described as successful, was the kangaroo dance fever.
Everywhere Mrs. Akufo-Addo went, both young and old welcomed her entourage with the dance and shouts of “we are moving forward”.