The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was on Tuesday bombarded with high electricity bills and killer petrol prices at La in Accra.

That was during the second day of his four-day tour of the Greater Accra region. Nana Akufo-Addo was touring the La Dadekotopon Constituency when residents told him that they could not pay the high Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) bills and asked him to come to their rescue.

Taxi drivers also complained about petrol prices which keep rising even when world prices were dropping.

In the company of the NPP parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Vincent Odotei Sowah aka Obama, Nana Akufo-Addo visited popular spots in the constituency where he interacted with the residents, predominantly the youth, who lamented their inability to find jobs, coupled with the rising cost of living and economic hardships prevailing at La in particular and the country in general.

At Mandela, the NPP flagbearer’s first port of call in the constituency, he retraced his Ga roots, indicating: “I was born at Swalaba; I grew up here in Accra, and as such there is nothing about the Ga State that I don’t know. I know your concerns because I have lived my life here.”

Nana Addo, who also inaugurated a recreational centre at Mandela, explained to the hundreds of youth gathered there that this year’s election was about their future. He said it was therefore imperative that they entrusted the fortunes of this nation into the hands of a competent person to better their lot.

“If you look at the circumstances of your family and you want change, vote for me. All of you here, I believe, want change and it is the NPP that will bring the change you desire. Vote for me to go into the Jubilee House and Obama into Parliament,” he urged.

At Agyeman, another popular spot in the constituency, the NPP flagbearer was confronted with similar issues (high cost of living and unemployment).

Nana Akufo-Addo said the panacea for the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs required by the teeming masses of Ghanaian youth was a change of government.

“There are no jobs. Even the pre-paid electricity bills, people cannot pay. So this year I am appealing to you to change the Mahama government. It is the NPP which can bring the change you need. That change can only be made complete in La when you vote for ‘Obama’ and Nana. This year, give me your thumb, because I am coming to change Ghana and bring jobs and wealth to every part of the country,” he implored.

At La Tenu, a popular community radio station in the constituency, Nana Addo urged the people of La not to pay heed to those who would seek to divide them along tribal lines in order to score cheap political points, much to the detriment of the people.

“We are one people, regardless of where we come from. At the end of the day, all we are looking for is prosperity and development. Let us not vote for someone simply because of where he or she hails from. Let us vote for someone who can do the job, someone who will bring jobs to our people,” he stressed.

Vincent Odotei Sowah, at Mandela and Agyeman, appealed to the gathering not to entertain any “skirt and blouse” voting in this year’s election, urging them further to “vote for Nana and Obama so that in 2017 I can confidently go to Parliament as your representative and bring you your share of development.”

Wisa’s Endorsement

Popular Ghanaian hiplife musician Wisa, who was present when Akufo-Addo visited Agyeman, endorsed the candidature of the NPP flagbearer with his popular hit song, “Electricity ekiki mi.”

“I can also boast that today I have met Nana Akufo-Addo. I have been an NPP supporter from childhood because the NPP is the party my father supported. I know what is happening in town. I am a musician and I need electricity to do my work. If there is no power, how do I work?” he asked.