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27.11.2008 Elections

NPP improves upon Volta fortunes… As thousands attend rally in Ho

27.11.2008 LISTEN
By Samuel Agbewode, Ho - Ghanaian Chronicle

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) seems to have made a significant impact in the Volta Region, as thousands of voltarians attended a regional rally in the capital, Ho.

The crowd, which could be described as the largest ever that the NPP had gathered in the region, was to showcase the level of preparedness of the party to change the previous one-sided voting pattern in the region, which is popularly known as the “World Bank “of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Many of the supporters, who came from the various parts of the region, waved NPP flags amidst drumming and dancing, a situation, which created a traffic jam in the Ho township.

At the R.T.C Park in Ho, where the supporters finally converged for what many described as a mammoth rally in the history of the party since democratic dispensation became the order of the day in the country, the people were seen doing the kangaroo dance with gestures indicating, “We are moving forward.”

The speakers were met with thunderous applause, and intermittently musicians like Tonny “D” and others made the place livelier, as they charged the atmosphere with various party songs, which moved the dignitaries including Nana Akufo Addo, the Volta Regional Minister, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, and the Regional Chairman, Kenwuud Nuworsu, to their feet, dancing to the tune.

Addressing the large crowd, the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, expressed satisfaction with the attendance, which he noted, was a sign of the NPP gaining grounds in the Volta Region, which in the past could not be possible, as people were not interested in even wearing T-shirts of the party, let alone attend its programmes.

He appealed to the people to let the large attendance reflect in the voting pattern in the December general elections, adding that the NPP would win the coming elections, and that the region should be part of the wining team, and benefit from the development agenda of the next NPP government. Nana Akufo Addo condemned those who cried for change, asking “the change that they are crying for, should it be for the better or for worse?”

He pointed out that Ghanaians were not prepared to go back to the era of intimidation and harassment, but would like to advance in unity, peace, love and tranquillity.

The NPP presidential candidate told the people that the next NPP government, under his leadership, would not create room for ethnic and tribal differences, so as to pave way for local governance at the grassroots, where the people would be placed at the centre of development.

Nana Akufo Addo also raised the high the hopes of the people, when he announced that when voted as the president, all constituencies would be made districts to strengthen grassroots democracy, thereby ensuring accelerated development of the rural communities.

He reiterated that the NPP government, under his leadership, would make education free and accessible to all children of school going age to the second cycle level, adding that ICT education would dominate the educational priorities of the country, to enable the youth be abreast of events in the world.

The Campaign Manager of the Nana Akufo Addo Campaign Team, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, said this year's election was about the future of the country, and urged Ghanaians to assess the level of development the NPP brought to them within the past eight years, as compared to the 19 years of the (P)NDC regimes.

Mr. Obetsebi Lamtey noted that the Kufuor-led administration of the NPP, had laid the foundation, and the only person who could build on the gains made, was Nana Akufo Addo, and asked the electorate to vote for the NPP to continue with its development activities.

Mr. Alan Kyerematen, a leading member of the NPP, charged party supporters to be vigilant on the day of the elections, and should avoid any acts that would mar the elections.

He also pointed out that politics was for development, and that any party that had its structures well-placed, like the NPP, was the party the electorate must vote for in the elections.

Other speakers included Mr. Osafo Maafo, Mr. Boakye Agyarko, Mrs. Agnes Okudzeto, Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister, Kenwuud Nuworsu, Volta Regional Chairman of the NPP, and other national executives.

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