The National Communications Director of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Solomon Yaw Nkansah has said he stands by his statement that the Mahama led administration will create an enabling environment to allow the youth stowaway when they vote massively for the NDC.

According to him, he sees nothing wrong with stowaway, as Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah once practiced it on his journey abroad, from where he returned to secure independence for the country.

Solomon Nkansah, who was addressing hundreds of NDC supporters during the campaign launch of the deputy Western Regional Minister and NDC parliamentary candidate for New Takoradi, Alfred Ekow Gyan said during the NPP’s era a huge wall was constructed around the harbour, making it difficult for the youth to stowaway.

He further stated that the NDC has broken the said wall and has expanded the port which will see more ships coming into the harbour, making it easy for the youth to embark on their stowaway.

“What happened was that when a certain party came to power, they built a 13 feet wall making it impossible for the youth to stowaway as they are always busted by the port securities but President Mahama has broken that wall and expanded the port which will allow big ships to come so we can stowaway.

How many of the Takoradi boys were able to stowaway during the NPP era? They were always arrested and prosecuted. There are numerous of our brothers whose parents were unable to travel oversees but with presence of harbours they themselves have been able to travel overseas”,Mr.Nkansah stated.

Mr Nkansah has come under huge flak for openly endorsing an illegal practice which has seen some Ghanaian stowaways losing their lives after they are thrown into the high seas midway into their journey abroad.

But speaking to Kasapa FM, Solomon Nkansah stated that his condemnation by a section of the public will not get him to retract his statement, adding that stowaway is the version of galamsey (illegal mining) for coastal dwellers especially in the Western Region, which has become a way of life for the residents.

“Those condemning for encouraging stowaway, I ask them…is galamsey also go? These are our challenges we are confronted with. But when someone manages to stowaway abroad and settles down, the person’s financial situation improves tremendously and is able to remit his family back in Ghana.”

He added: “I as an NDC executive has made this statement, if the NPP thinks it’s unfortunate, they should go ahead and openly tell the people of New Takoradi that stowaway is wrong and that a future NPP government will not allow that.”