Nana to win big - in kwahu

Indications are clear that the Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Nana  Akufo-Addo, is set to record an unprecedented electoral victory in the Kwahu area of the Eastern Region in the December general elections.

This follows the tremendous growth of the NPP's support base in its strongholds of Mpraeso, Abetifi and Nkawkaw constituencies, as well as the soaring popularity of the party"s Presidential Candidate in the area.

When he took his campaign to the area at the weekend, Nana Akufo-Addo received a hero's welcome from the chiefs and people who assured him of their unflinching support for his determination to ascend the nation's presidency on January 7, 2009.

Even though the Mpraeso, Abetifi and Nkawkaw constituencies have remained strongholds of the ruling party since the nation returned to multi-party democratic governance in 1992, the number of people pulled by Nana Akufo-Addo was so large and uncommon that it sent shockwaves down the spines of many people, including activists of the NPP.

The atmosphere at the Kwahu Ridge was more than electrifying as Nana Akufo-Addo's convoy moved through the streets of Mpraeso through to Nkwatia, Abetifi, Pepease, Bokuruwa, Tafo, Asakraka and Bepong.

The situation was the same at Nkawkaw where Nana Akufo-Addo was welcomed into the Kwahu community from the Abirem constituency where he started the second phase of his Eastern regional campaign tour.

The thousands of excited party supporters and sympathisers followed the convoy of the Presidential Candidate from one town to another without showing any sign of fatigue. It was more than street carnivals in the towns, as the people treated themselves to sweet renditions of Daddy Lumba's "Nana Winner' and Phillipa Baafi's 'Go High'.

Rallies that were held at Kwahu-Tafo, Mpraeso and Nkawkaw in the Abetifi, Mpraeso and Nkawkaw constituencies respectively attracted so many people that there were near stampedes, with the security personnel having hectic times in their desperate attempts to control the moving crowd that struggled for every available space to enable them catch a glimpse of their next leader after J A Kufuor.

'The fact has always remained that the NPP commands massive support in the Kwahu area, but what has been witnessed today is just unusual.

The party's support base has grown considerably because the chiefs and people are pleased with the amount of development their communities have witnessed under the NPP government, and the only way to demonstrate their appreciation is to support the party to retain power.'

The above was a statement from Kwame Mensah, a 33-year old teacher native of Mpraeso, when The Statesman sought his comment on the ever-growing support the NPP enjoys in the Kwahu area.

Mr Mensah, who described himself as 'non-partisan political observer', added: 'The other naked fact is that the people of Kwahu were denied their fair share of the national cake under the (P) NDC regime because they were perceived as anti-Rawlings.

So when the NPP took over the management of the affairs of the nation, they heaved a sigh of relief because they knew their party had come to power, and indeed since 2001 the area has witnessed tremendous development. It is therefore natural that they will be determined to vote big for the NPP in the December elections.'

Addressing the people at separate rallies, Nana Akufo-Addo who was apparently overwhelmed by the record-crowd thanked the electorate in Kwahu for their constant support for the NPP.

He urged them to remain firm in their support and vote massively to ensure another resounding victory for the party in the up-coming elections.

The Presidential Candidate re-affirmed his party's manifesto promise to offer free secondary education for the citizenry, as well as his determination to move the nation into the realms of industrial revolution, 'stressing I am fully committed to all the pledges I have made to the nation.'

He also re-iterated his passionate call on all and sundry to help sustain the nation's peace and unity, adding 'all the fine ideas we intend to implement to move the nation's development agenda forward will come to naught if there is no peace and unity in the country.'

Nana Akufo-Addo also called on all NPP activists, especially those who contested the party's parliamentary primaries, to help ensure the prevalence of unity in the party in the run-up to the December general elections.

 He noted that with unity of purpose the NPP would always remain indomitable.

He used the occasion to introduce the party's parliamentary candidates for the area.

They were Kwabena Okerchire Adusah, Nkawkaw, Seth Kwame Acheampong, Mpraeso, and Peter Wiafe Pepra, Abetifi.

Other leading party activists, including Yaw Amoabeng Gyekye, NPP Regional Chairman, Boakye Agyarko, a former presidential aspirant, and Gloria Akuffo, former Aviation Minister took turns to address the gathering.