*The presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, kick-started his nationwide tour with an address to chiefs and people of Gomoa Nyanyano, Awutu Senya Beraku and Apam, all in the Central Region.*

Dr Nduom’s first port of call was Gomoa Nyanyano where the place was set agog when he stormed the area together with leading members of the party.

Many residents gathered at vantage points across the streets to welcome him to the district amid drumming and dancing; an enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Kasoa Junction while some of them followed him all the way to Gomoa Nyanyano.

Receiving him at his palace, the Odikro and Ohyehene of Gomoa state, Dr Nana Obeng Wiabo V, indicated that they (chiefs of the area) and Ghanaians in general have experienced the governance of all the political parties in the country and know what they can offer.

He added that it is time for Ghanaians to try another party for the nation to progress steadily.

“We have tasted water and wind and have decided that we need a change, I mean a totally different party with a different package to implement new and different policies for us as a nation to develop,” he stressed.

The chief who kept referring to Dr Nduom as Ghana’s next President assured the presidential hopeful about the commitment of his people to give him (Dr Nduom) the needed support to enable him succeed in his quest to become President of the nation.

Dr Nana Wiabo was grateful to Dr Nduom for starting his tour in the area saying “this shows you really have our community at heart.”

He commended Dr Nduom for the clean way in which he organises his campaign and charged his followers to emulate him.

“PPP should learn to sieve whatever language its uses in order not to cause any political tension in the country. This advice does not go for Dr Nduom because we all know he is a disciplined man when it comes to political talk but you the followers must mind your languages in order not to cause any problem for him, the party or the country as a whole,” he advised.

Dr Nana Wiabo pleaded with Dr Nduom to make the plight of orphans and children suffering from all kinds of illness his number one priority in order to secure their future.

“It saddens my heart to see children with their parents begging Ghanaians to help them get treated on national television so I’m pleading with you to note this down and make it one of your priorities to help such children in need,” he said.

On his part, Dr Nduom stated that he began his nationwide tour from the area because the area has so many things in common with his native town, Elmina, particularly fishing.

He stated that PPP is ready for the challenge to manage the affairs of the nation and charged Ghanaians to have confidence in the party and vote massively for him in the upcoming December elections.

He called for the immediate stoppage to politics of insults and assured that his party will continue to ensure a clean campaign to maintain peace and order in the country.

“As for us in the PPP, we understand politics and know what the game is about so we will always tell Ghanaians about what we will do to bring development to the country rather than promote hate speech,” he assured.

Touching on what the PPP will do if Ghanaians give him the mandate as president; he promised to institute a policy to ensure that education from the Kindergarten to the Senior High School (SHS) level is free.

He also promised to build more schools and teachers bungalows as well as give teachers the salaries they deserve to facilitate his agenda. On health, Dr Nduom stated that his main priority will be on improving the sanitation problem in the country to reduce malaria like Britain and America has done.

He charged people to discard the notion that a vote for the PPP is a wasted vote, adding that the party has come to salvage Ghanaians from the difficulties and hardship bestowed on them by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). ** * *

Dr Nduom also addressed the leadership of the fishing community at a mini-durbar.

Dr Nduom later went to Awutu Senya Beraku, his ancestral hometown, where he briefly met with his family, the chief of the town and later addressed a durbar organised in his honour.

The first phase of the Central Regional tour ended at Apam. Although the gathering went deep into the night, the chief and people of the town waited patiently for Dr Ndoum and his team.

At a durbar organised in his honour, Dr Nduom assured that a PPP government will fight hard to improve education and the fishing industry, which is the main occupation of the people of Apam. **

* * *Signed: Richmond Keelson Communication Director