Akufo-Addo Takes 'Restoration Of Hope Tour To Koforidua
Commercial activities in the central business district of the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, came to a standstill Monday as hundreds of people lined up the main Asafo Adjei Street to welcome Nana Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party presidential candidate, to the municipality.
Most of the enthusiastic crowd were traders, drivers and artisans who attempted to shake hands or catcha glimpse of Nana Akufo-Addo, who walked through the main market and some of the streets, including the main Asafo Adjei Street.
So huge was the crowd that the few police personnel detailed for the visit had difficulty controlling the people, most of whom tried to shake hands with the flag bearer.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who was on his second-leg of the “Restoration of Hope” tour of the Eastern Region, addressed the Zongo community in Koforidua, paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of New Juaben, Daasebre (Prof.) Oti Boaten at his palace, addressed students of the Koforidua Polytechnic and answered questions on various aspects of the economy at a youth forum.
Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied by his running mate, Dr Muhamadu Bawumia and other top NPP executive members.
At the Koforidua Polytechnic, Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia explained to the students the need for a change of government through the ballot box in December.
According to them, the economy, which the NPP improved, started deteriorating after the NPP lost the 2008 elections as a result of which prices had been skyrocketing, while majority of the people wallowed in poverty.
According to them, it had, therefore, become necessary for the NPP to come back to power and continue with its good policies that were abrogated in 2009.
They told the students that the single digit inflation had not translated into the daily life of the ordinary Ghanaian, who according to them, were crying for salvation, which could only come through the NPP.
With regard to Nana Akufo-Addo’s pledge of fee-free senior high school (SHS) education, which some critics say is not feasible, the NPP presidential candidate said he had made his groundwork to prove the critics wrong.
He explained that the manner in which the NPP under ex-President Kufuor managed the health insurance scheme, which survived, would be applied to the free SHS, adding that Ghana had the resources to implement it if the economy was well managed.
At Koforidua Zongo, Nana Akufo Addo pledged to introduce a special fund for the development of the zongos whose inhabitants would also not be expelled, adding that under the regulations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), no person would be expelled from the country under his administration.
At the Methodist Park, where a youth forum was held, representatives of various associations such as artisans, drivers, traders and teachers asked varied questions, highlighting difficulties they were going through operating their businesses and how the NPP would solve such problems.
Nana Akufo-Addo reacted to all the issues raised and promised them that he had a team capable of dealing with the problems and asked for their support to make it possible for him to become the President to “lead Ghanaians to the promised land”.
At the Omanhene’s palace, Professor Oti Boaten asked politicians not to do anything that would plunge the country into chaos or mayhem such as Afghanistan where he recently visited and acquainted himself with the problems there.
He also called for God’s guidance for Nana Akufo Addo in his quest to lead the nation.