The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused President John Dramani Mahama of insulting the chiefs and people of the Western Region with his comment that Nana Akufo-Addo, flag bearer of the NPP might have been sleeping during his campaign tour of the region recently, thus, his inability to have seen so many good roads constructed in that part of the country.

The party said the president’s comment was “un-presidential” and “insulting” to the people of the Western Region, who endure deplorable roads on daily basis.

“To him, all the people complaining about bad roads in the Western region are sleeping. He should tell that to the commercial drivers who spend 10 hours just to travel from Sefwi-Wiaso in the Northern part of the Western Region to Takoradi,” Mr. John Boadu, acting General Secretary of the NPP told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday, 17 August.

Mr. Akufo-Addo, who is Mr Mahama’s main contender in the upcoming December polls, just completed his tour of the Western Region. During the tour, Nana Akufo-Addo questioned claims by the government that massive road infrastructure had been undertaken in the region.

But Mr. Mahama, who is currently touring the Western Region, told party supporters on Tuesday, 16 August, that: “Perhaps he [Nana Akufo-Addo] was sleeping so he couldn’t see the roads.”

The NPP, however, said the president had a “false start” to his campaign by hurling “insults” at his opponents. “We all know that John Mahama is sensitive to criticism, but it gives him no excuse to use un-presidential language against his opponents, chiefs and the people of the Western Region,” Mr. Boadu said.

Meanwhile the NPP is demanding an apology from the Daily Dispatch over a publication which alleged that the NPP has resolved to lie against government ahead of the December 7 polls.

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