GHANAIANS IN HOLLAND CANNOT WAIT TO WELCOME NANA AKUFFO-ADDO

The Campaign for Ghana's general elections in December is in full swing. The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo has been visiting several overseas countries, including the UK, USA and Canada to express solidarity with Ghanaians sympathetic to the cause of NPP. Reports reaching Sankofa TV is that, a hero's welcome awaits Nana Akuffo Addo in Holland. The Ghanaian community in Holland has plenty to contribute to democracy and peaceful elections in Ghana. Recently, the NDC party executives from Accra visited the NDC-Holland. CPP presidential aspirant Paa Kwesi Nduom is also touring North America and may not visit Holland due to the absence of a formal CPP-Holland.

The NPP members in Holland are working frantically to welcome Nana Akuffo Addo and his entourage. They are eagerly poised to contribute to support the NPP and its flag bearer to win the December, 2008 elections. For most NPP supporters in Holland, the arrival of Nana Addo to Holland will provide the moment to celebrate the successes of NPP rule for past 8 years, while assessing the continued support which they can provide to sustained the past successes.

Ghanaians living abroad cannot exercise their franchise in this year's general elections as required by Ropal, (Peoples Representation Amendment Law) but this has not daunted their interest in the campaign. They are in constant touch with their families advising them to behave peacefully throughout the campaign and elections, advising them sometimes on the choice of their candidates and sending them remittances, which in no small measure help improve their economic livelihoods.

A well respected opinion leader in the Ghanaian community here, who preferred anonymity, hinted that, the present ever vibrant NPP-Holland is under pressure from members and sympathizers to get Nana Akuffo Addo to visit Holland before December election. Reactions from NPP-Holland echelons, deny any pressure from party faithful and the community, but revealed that an invitation has been sent to Nana Akuffo Addo to visit Holland, and it has already made extensive plans to make his visit a memorable one, which includes a rally with the Ghanaian community, meeting with Dutch businesses, politicians and institutions and a diner dance to climax. “We are encouraged by the enthusiasm expressed by the Ghanaian community to meet Nana Addo Dankwa, who is slated to become the next President of the Republic of Ghana come January 9, 2009, and demonstrate their love for the party and Ghana, such enthusiasm or exuberance cannot be describes as pressures on us. We are expecting a specific date for the visit to be communicated to us soon, and we would shake Amsterdam in grandeur with Nana Akuffo Addo's campaign visit” said Mr. Charles Owusu Ansah, secretary of NPP-Holland.

NPP-Holland is seen as a well-organized overseas branch. It ranks next to the UK & Northern-Ireland, USA and Canada branches. In June 2008, it reorganized itself in conducting elections to elect its new executive officers. This immediately saw the visit of the General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow to Holland, to boost the moral of party members. Subsequently, NPP-Holland sent a delegate to vote at the 2007 Congress which chose Nana Akuffo Addo as the Party's flag bearer for the December 2008 presidential elections. The NPP-Holland has its own radio station in Amsterdam, which holds a weekly broadcast on socio- economic and political, developments issues in Ghana, to Ghanaian and Dutch listeners. The radio is broadcast live and can be heard every Sunday between 10.00 and 11:00 GMT. It is also streamed on the internet at http://www.salto.nl/streamplayer/radio/live_razo.asp

Other reliable sources also disclosed that the president, John Agyekum Kufuor, is expected pay a state visit to her majesty Queen Beatrix of Holland before the end of this year, However both visits by the outgoing president John Kufuor, and the NPP slated in-coming president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, will see Ghanaians in Holland geared to the best of all festive moods ever. They simply cannot wait for these.