… As Prez. Mahama Apologize For His Lateness

Residents, Chiefs and Visitors of Akropong in the Eastern Region who had gathered to celebrate this year’s Odwira festival on Friday were moved by the arrival of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate for the 2012 General Eelection, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo –Addo, that they spontaneously started doing the famous ‘kangaroo dance’ and cheered him on for positive change in the coming December polls.

The presence of Nana Addo and his team added a special touch to the festival as several people were heard shouting “ Free Education” “Nana OO Nana” and danced heavily as Nana Addo walked to the venue of the grand durbar of Chiefs.

From Aburi all the way to Akropong, NPP flags were seen decorated at the sides of the roads while people were seen clad in their party colors and lined up to cheer on the NPP Presidential Candidate.

What was supposed to be the annual festival of the people turned into a political carnival as several people thronged onto the streets to welcome Nana Addo. Several party colours of the ruling NDC were also on display.

The team had a hectic time moving to the durbar grounds due to the huge crowd which made it virtually impossible for Nana Addo and his convoy to move and therefore had to get down and walk several meters to the durbar grounds.

The Paramount Chief of Akropong in his address on the theme “Love, Peace and Unity” called for peaceful co existence among all Ghanaians especially during the electioneering period and noted that any peace had thrived in Ghana for long and one must not destabilize it through elections.

To buttress his point Nana Addo Dankwa appealed to the government for comprehensive development al projects in the area of “health, education and infrastructure” which he said was not enough for people of the area.

The President John Dramani Mahama who was the Guest of Honor, apologized for his two hour late arrival to the durbar grounds which he said was due to his heavy schedule.

“ I had wanted my Vice to represent me but later decided to come myself, that is the reason for my lateness and I hope my apology has been accepted by all” he said.

He also congratulated the Chiefs and people for the theme of this year’s Odwira festival “Love, Peace and Unity” since it was very relevant and timely due to the upcoming general election and called for calm in the upcoming elections which he said he was optimistic would be peaceful just as past elections in Ghana.

“I am very sure by Gods grace this year’s election would be peaceful just we have experienced in past elections” He said.

On the controversy surrounding the creation of forty five new constituencies he said it was the work of the electoral commission and called on all against it to allow the electoral commission to exercise its mandate.

He also apologized to the Moderator and the entire Presbyterian Church for the misunderstanding it had with the NDC and its General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nkethia.

“I want to apologize to the Church and call on the NDC to cease fire for peaceful coexistence among one another” he underscored.