Election 2012: NPP rounds off campaign with rally in Accra

Election 2012: NPP rounds off campaign with rally in Accra

Photo by: David Andoh

Scores of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) converged at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra Wednesday at a mammoth rally to which leading members of the party impressed on the supporters to eschew complacency and turn out in their numbers and vote.

Even before the flag bearer of the of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia arrived at the rally grounds around 5:15 pm, the atmosphere at the place was charged as supporters danced to party songs while others tooted horns in excitement.

The euphoria was hightened when Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia appeared from an open top vehicle waving to the teeming supporters. Not even the security detail could control the excited supporters as they shouted “Nana, we love you”, “Nana please come to our rescue.”

Also on display for sale was NPP paraphernalia as people took advantage of the rally to cash in.

Taking turns to address the rall, the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, charged NPP supporters across the country to vote massively for Nana Akufo-Addo because he said, Ghanaians can no longer tolerate four more years of mal-administration under the NDC government.

He alleged that all the NDC came to power to do was to enrich themselves at the expense of the ordinary Ghanaian for which reason he sought the support of the electorate to replace the NDC with a “visionary and forward looking leader who is bold and decisive.”

The Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea, said Ghanaian now had the opportunity to decide on Friday whether they desire to stick to the status quo of corruption and incompetence under the NDC or make a decision that would transform their lives.
Addressing the supporters mostly in Akan, he wondered why President Mahama who benefited from free secondary education, a policy that had made him what he was today, was kicking against that same policy being preached by the NPP.

The General Secretary of the party, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, known in political circles as Sir John, added his voice to the earlier speakers and reiterated the need for Ghanaians to vote the NDC out.

According to him Ghanaians in the last four years lived in misery and that for that to change there was the need to “boot” the NDC out of government and elect Nana Akufo-Addo who in his view, had better policies to implement if voted for.

Former President J.A. Kufour, accused the NDC of peddling falsehood in terms of their achievements explaining that the NDC since its assumption of office was taking credit for what he (Kufour) started.

He mentioned for instance that the one million tons of cocoa that had been achieved was as a result of the erstwhile NPP government’s hard work which the NDC was taking credit for.

He pleaded with Ghanaians to use Friday’s election as an opportunity to effect a better change in their lives by voting for the NPP.
Nana Akufo-Addo who was the last person to address the rally reiterated his commitment to implement the free Senior High School policy adding that the party had done its calculation andknew it could be done.

“We know we can do it. It must be done, it can be done and it will be done,” he said.

He said that the social intervention policies introduced by the Kufour regime were collapsing under the NDC administration and promised that if elected, the National Health Insurance Scheme which he claimed was near collapse, would be revived.

Touching on the NDC’s slogan which has gained currency “edey be keke” Nana Akufo-Addo introduced his own version of it when he shouted “let me tell them you dey go keke”.

He said the next NPP government would make sure every single Ghanaian benefited from his policies of prosperity and added that he was coming to build on the foundation of former President Kufour.

“We are coming to strengthen the unity of our country and promote reconciliation. We are not going to be vindictive. We are going to open up Ghana for all to contribute to the prosperity that we seek to pursue,”Nana Akufo-Addo stated.