The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Friday suffered what political observers described as ‘sabotage’ when power supply was cut to the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

The incident occurred after the MC for the occasion, Nana Asante Bediatuo called the NPP flagbearer to the stage to deliver his speech to an enthusiastic crowd during the 10th anniversary of the commemoration of the death of Baffuor Osei Akoto, linguist of the Asantehene and a leading member of the UP tradition.

Immediately Nana Akufo-Addo mounted the podium and grabbed the microphone to address the gathering, power supply to the venue suddenly went off, leaving the NPP flagbearer and the crowd including gurus of the party in total darkness.

The agitated crowd, most of whom were students of the KNUST who sensed foul-play, suddenly shouted ‘sabotage’ repeatedly and sang the NPP tunes.

Nana Akufo-Addo, who expressed shock at the development, was seen laughing in the dark as the agitated crowd hurled invectives at the ruling NDC administration for intentionally orchestrating the power outage to frustrate their flagbearer.

The NPP presidential candidate stood in the dark for almost 15 minutes before the stand-by generator at the venue was switched on for him to deliver his eloquent speech which touched on Ghana’s history and the future prospects of the country.

The suspicion of the crowd that the power outage was orchestrated by some some elements gained currency when the power was restored to the Great Hall after Nana Akufo-Addo completed his speech.

Power Restored

The Chairman of the occasion who is a top Ghanaian industrialist Akenten Appiah Menka equally expressed surprise at the development.

“I don’t know why the lights went off immediately Nana Akufo-Addo mounted the stage to deliver his speech, only for it to be restored when he completed his deliver?” he quizzed.

The enthusiastic crowd immediately shouted “sabotage, sabotage, sabotage, sabotage repeatedly.”

Delivering his speech, Nana Akufo-Addo stated he wanted a Ghana where freedom, justice, equal rights and equal opportunities would be given to the citizenry irrespective of their ethnicity, religion and sex, among others.

He also disclosed his ambition of making Ghana the hub of industrialization in the sub-region, stressing that Ghana could achieve the feat if education was made accessible to the citizenry.

Nana Akufo-Addo stated that as president he would open the gates of education to every single individual, reiterating his desire of making Senior High School education free for the people.

The NPP flagbearer noted that the free SHS policy was feasible, stressing that it was only people with small minds who think SHS education could not be made free.

Nana Akufo Addo predicted that in 20 years’ time ECOWAS would boast of about 500 million people, insisting that Ghana needed to position itself properly as a leading industrialized country in order to fully reap the benefits.

He stressed that Ghana could become a major force to reckon with in the sub-region if the country implements the free SHS policy.

Big Dream

Nana Akufo-Addo urged the citizenry to buy into his well-planned vision, which would ensure the education of a large section of the populace to make Ghana a leading industrialized country.

He insisted that Ghana was endowed with all the necessary resources needed to become a leading country in the world, adding that the country needed visionary leadership to help it reach the ‘Promised Land’.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the private sector, which has been neglected by the current administration, would receive the needed attention and support from the next NPP administration.

Ghana, he noted, needed a strong market economy.

Praises Baffuor Akoto

Nana Akufo Addo praised Baffuor Osei Akoto for his vital contributions to the formation of the UP tradition, adding that the late linguist of the Asantehene contributed significantly to freedom of speech and elimination of oppressive rule from the country.

Almost all the speakers at the event unanimous agreed that Baffuor Akoto’s name be added to those of great men like Danquah, Busia and Dombo who espoused the UP tradition.

Considering his immense contributions in the formation of the UP, the speakers were of the view Baffuor Akoto should be honoured to help motivate the youth to selflessly dedicate their lives to the cause of Mother Ghana.

Other speakers at the event included Baffuor Ossei Hyiamanbrantuo VI, Otumfuo Mawerehene, Prof. Mike Oquaye, Kantinka Dr. K. Donkor Fordwor, Prof. Justice A.K.P. Kludze, Prof. Yaw Twumasi and Prof. S.K.B. Asante.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi