Accra, Oct. 21, GNA - Thousands of the supporters and sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Kaneshie and Abossey Okai in Accra on Thursday stood in torrential rains to cheer President John Agyekum Kufuor as he toured some parts of the Accra Metropolis.

President Kufuor riding in an open Ford and drenched in the rain responded to the cheers and admiration of the people, who sang and danced to the Party's campaign song of a special version of Prophet Seth Frimpong's "Mehuri so" and making the Party's sign 'Asieho Asieho'.

The tour began from Maamobi through Nima, Abeka, Darkuman to Kokompe and when the Convoy reached Hotel Hansonic it began to rain so the President sat down in his vehicle but when it got to Kaneshie Market and President Kufuor saw the ecstatic crowd cheering in the rain he stood up in his car to respond.

Addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of Nima earlier, President Kufuor said Nima being a city within the city of Accra and accommodating all citizens from countries within the West Africa Sub-Region, the Government had a special affinity for the area to be made a tourist attraction for Accra.

He said Ghana was a showpiece of Africa and for the Government to sustain its status it would need the cooperation and efforts of all Ghanaians.

President Kufuor, therefore, appealed to the chiefs to release lands for the planning of Nima in an innovative and attractive way to improve the market and provide other social services.

Nii Futa Chief of Nima said mobilisation of the human and material resources at Nima had been their focus to change and develop the area without relying solely on the Government.

He said an economic development plan for the area - Nima Incorporated - would be launched soon to address the challenges of Nima through the provision of infrastructure to improvement in education, health, sanitation and security.

Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Shiekh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Nii Stanley Adjiri Blankson, Mayor of Accra, accompanied President Kufuor.

He would continue the tour on Friday to Osu, La and Teshie.