The National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has assured Ghanaians that the year 2019 will be better for them as a result of the solid foundation laid by the current government to improve the country’s economy.

“I want to assure Ghanaians that there are better and more prosperous times ahead this year because of several measures put in place to better the economy. This year, there will be more money in people’s pockets,” he promised.

The NPP National Chairman said this at a forum organized by the Western Regional Organizer of the NPP, Abdul Ganiyu Mohammed, on Saturday to mark the second year of the NPP in office.

The well-attended forum, which was organized in collaboration with the Western Regional Organizational Committee of the NPP, was on the theme: “NPP, Our Hope 2020 and Beyond”.

The party’s members also engaged in Quranic recitation at the Takoradi Central Mosque and Thanksgiving Service at the Bethel Methodist Church in Takoradi.

The party also donated assorted items to babies at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.

Mr. Blay explained that the prudent policies put in place by the Akufo-Addo government over the last 22 months had helped to reduce the impact of hardship in the country.

He thanked the party faithful in the region for their perseverance and sacrifices that ensured victory in the 2016 general elections, and also supporting him to win the national chairmanship position of the party.

He appealed to the party activists to continue to join hands with the government to build the progressive nation Ghanaians have been yearning for over the years by contributing their quota in various fields.

“I have had the privilege of attending cabinet meetings under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, and I can tell you that the government has put things right and very soon all of us will enjoy.

“It is sad that sometimes some of us join activists of the opposition parties in singing the chorus ‘we have not seen anything’. That should not come from us but the NDC activists who have refused to notice the efforts of the sitting government,” he told the crowd.

“Let me stress here that in 2019, the government will not discriminate against any Ghanaian in terms of job and other opportunities, but the party will recognize its own,” he added.

“Ghana is certainly on the right path, and I believe that we have all resolved not to give up political power to any political party in 2020. But let me stress that it is not about what you say but what you will do to achieve what we are saying,” he added.

He told the enthusiastic NPP supporters that the current government would not overlook corruption because it could bring the government and the party down.

“So whoever is within us and indulging in corrupt practices or any wrongdoings would be exposed,” he emphasized.

He told the people in the Western Region that under the current government, the residents would benefit more from the oil discovered in the area.

Joe Ghartey

The Minister for Railway Development and Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey, also commended both the former and current regional executives of the party for working hard to increase the NPP’s seats in the region in Parliament from eight to 16.

He indicated that the rejuvenation of the railway sector would not only benefit the people of the Western Region but also the country in general.

Charles Bissue

The Regional Secretary of the NPP, Charles Cromwell Bissue, who is also a Presidential Staffer, indicated that “the NPP is fulfilling its manifesto promises presented to the people before the 2016 elections”.

“For instance, we have introduced the free senior high school policy; we have made the National Health Insurance Scheme work again; teachers and nursing allowances are being paid, and NABCO is also working, among others,” he added.

Mr. Bissue, who is also the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Small-Scale Mining, disclosed that six mining districts had been created in the region to help create jobs for Ghanaians.

The Western Regional Organizer of the NPP, Abdul Ganiyu Mohammed, appealed to the various organizers of the party at the various levels to intensify their campaign in their respective areas towards victory 2020 and beyond.

Later, Mr. Blay was presented with a citation and a wooden elephant by the youth wing of the party in the region for leading the party to victory in 2016 in his capacity as acting national chairman.