`Ich bin ein, Zongo man`

Rehashing late American President Kennedy's famous Speech at Berlin before the walls came down, describing himself in German as “Ich bin ein Berliner”, meaning “I am a Berliner”, the New Patriotic Party Presidential candidate over the weekend told the people of the Zongo community in Accra that the false perception that NPP was against the zongo communities is mere propaganda that must be dismissed because he is from the the Zongo himself.

Nana Addo expressed concern that despite efforts being made by the government, people in the Zongo Communities do not vote for the NPP. He appealed to them to vote for the NPP this time round, considering the track record of the party and his background as a Zongo boy. Nana Addo's parents lived in Nima and he also lived there and still maintains a home there.

Touching on some gains of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo said a vote for the NDC would mean neutralising the gains chalked so far by the NPP. He told residents that though President Kufuor had done a lot, there was more to be done, with the assurance that he would continue from where President Kufuor left off.

Nana Addo was accompanied by Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, Mad. Grace Omaboe, a. k.a Maame Dokonu, Dr. Nyaho-Nyaho Tamakloe, the NPP firebrand politician, Hon. Sheikh I. C Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mrs. Vickie Bright, Deputy Minister at the office of the President, Hon. Yaw Osaafo-Maafo, ex-Minister of Finance, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Mr. Lord Enoch Oblitey Commey, the National Organizer of the party, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the MP for Weija and the regional party executives.

Nana Akufo-Addo reckoned that if the NPP were to be given enough years to rule just like that of the NDC, the nation would have been transformed into a better country by now.

He noted that though President Kufuor inherited empty coffers from the NDC, he had been able to lay the economic foundation for him (Nana Addo) to build upon it. “When we came into office, the economy was bankrupt but by the Grace of God, President Kufuor managed to restore the economy and I can tell you that it is only the NPP that would move the nation forward. I urge you to vote for me so that we can wipe out illiteracy,” he said, and cited various countries that gained independence alongside Ghana, which had similar economic indicators but were able to tackle illiteracy significantly.

Nana Akufo-Addo, the current MP for Abuakwa North, noted that what the NPP had done within the few years of its reign was unprecedented and prevailed upon Ghanaians to look at the track record of the NPP and help retain the party in power.

Speaking on peace to the supporters and Chiefs within Weija, Ablekuma, Ablekuma Central, Abosey-Okai and other areas that he toured last Saturday, he called for peace and tolerance.

He also condemned tribalism, saying Ghana belongs to all and those tribal sentiments that are being introduced into our body politic were wrong. “What is on my heart apart from education and industrialisation is to ensure that peace and unity reign supreme. We are all Ghanaians,” he said.

At various constituencies that he visited over the weekend to introduce himself to kingmakers, chiefs, opinion leaders, Imams and the nation at large, thousands of party members from all walks of life trooped onto the streets to listen to him.

All the rallies he addressed centered on his main message of eradicating illiteracy, making the Senior High School free to enable the ordinary Ghanaians afford education, in addition to his promise to increase the police force from 25,000 to 50,000 to protect the citizenry. All the rallies were well attented.