-Nana invites Upper West voters

Nana Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Tuesday asked the electorate in the Upper West Region to give full meaning to the new bond of affection they have established with the governing party by voting massively for it in the December presidential and parliamentary elections.

He noted with optimism that the overwhelming support the NPP enjoys among the broad masses across the country, which had resulted from its impressive record in government, pointed to the fact that the party was on course to recording an electoral hat trick over the opposition National Democratic Congress in the up-coming elections.

"You therefore need to remain firm in your new support for the NPP, and come along with us so that come December 7, when I'm declared the President, you will be part of the victory and the subsequent celebration,' Nana Akufo-Addo stated to thunderous applause.

He was addressing thousands of party supporters and sympathisers at a Regional rally organised at the Teendanba Park in Wa.

Uncharacteristic of activities of the NPP in the Region hitherto considered politically antagonistic towards the party, the rally attracted a record number of people, sending shockwaves down the spines of members of the NDC.

The Presidential Candidate recounted the leading roles played in the past by prominent politicians from the Region in the affairs of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, and urged the people 'to come back home and take your rightful position in the affairs of the NPP because this is where you belong.'

Nana Akufo-Addo told the gathering that the incumbent government had done a lot to justify the need for the electorate to vote massively to renew its mandate in the December 7 elections, urging them to avoid the mistake of voting to return the NDC to power.

According to the NPP Presidential Candidate, the 19-year rule of the (P) NDC regime, led by former President Rawlings, did not prove very beneficial to the nation, stressing, 'if we had been in government for that number of years, the nation"s development agenda would have been carried to a higher level than where we are now.'

He explained to the gathering that even though the NDC left behind a comatose economy and a demoralised population, the NPP administration under the able leadership of President Kufuor had managed to put the economy on sound footing through intelligent and prudent management of the affairs of the nation.

Nana Akufo-Addo assured the people that his presidency would do everything possible to bridge the North-South developmental gap, adding that it was for that reason that he had proposed the setting up of the Northern Development Authority to plan and coordinate programmes that could be implemented to accelerate the pace of development in all parts of the three northern Regions.

'I remain committed to the development of the North, and I want to assure you that by the end of my tenure of office as the President of the nation, the developmental gap between the North and South would have been bridged, so that the youth remain here to undertake more meaningful activities and lead more decent lives instead of migrating to the South in search of non-existent jobs.'

The NPP Presidential Candidate urged the people to live in peace with one another and avoid all practices that are out of consonance with the laws of the nation, and could also disturb the peace and stability of the nation.

'We need peace and unity in our country.

Don't allow self-seeking politicians to knock your heads together in pursuit of their diabolical political agenda. We are all one people irrespective of our different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

You should always keep in mind that politicians who whip up tribal sentiments don't have the interest of the nation at heart,' he underscored.

Mahamudu Bwumia, running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo, urged the people not to give in to the negative propaganda being carried out by the opposition NDC to discredit the NPP government, but vote massively to retain the NPP in power.

'You are going to make a very important decision in the December 7 elections, about the future direction of this country, and it is obvious that the NPP, led by Nana Akufo-Addo, has got the best to offer the nation in terms of the future direction of this country.

Nana Akufo-Addo is also the best person with proven track record of political leadership required to move the nation forward,' Dr Bawumia stated to deafening applause from the crowd.

Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Chairman of the Akufo-Addo for President Campaign team, described Nana Akufo-Addo as the real embodiment of the vision espoused by the founding fathers of the NPP, and the nation, and expressed optimism that his presidency would witness a total transformation of the nation within the next decade.

Though optimistic about the victory that awaits the NPP in the up-coming elections, the party's main campaign strategists charged the rank and file to campaign vigorously to ensure a resounding victory that will leave no doubt in the minds of anybody.

Others who addressed the rally included Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Boakye Agyarko, both former presidential aspirants, and other leading party members in the Upper West Region.