The people of the town of Takoradi and its environs poured out a spontaneous show of affection for the 2008 presidential candidate of the NPP and a leading contender in the race to elect the next flag bearer of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo, made a surprise visit to the Takoradi market circle as part of his tour of the Western Region.

The large crowd, including retailers and shoppers, dropped everything to follow Nana Akufo-Addo and his Victory 2012 campaign team. Their jubilation changed the atmosphere of what started off as a rather quiet and calm public holiday last Monday.

Unannounced, Nana Akufo-Addo got down from his vehicle and walked through the market circle area, the main market and then marched on with the crowd to the Ahenfie Hotel, where he met with delegates of the Takoradi constituency to deliver his message of hope to them.

The message from the crowd was simple and same as is said to him everywhere, “Nana Y’ani Da Woso” to wit “Nana, you’re our hope.”

At one point, Nana had to respond, "With God on our side and hard work we can bring back hope!"

The excited crowd, which followed Nana to the hotel, hijacked the meeting with the delegates for nearly an hour, singing and dancing.

When the meeting eventually commenced, members of the campaign team took turns to explain to the delegates why Nana Akufo-Addo is seeking their mandate and why they must vote for him.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Kwabena Okyere Darko, who is also a member of Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign team, told the crowd that he decided to join Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign team because of conversations his constituents, including non-NPP people, have been having with him ever since the party lost power.

Obviously excited, Kobby told the delegates that Nana Akufo-Addo has since 1998 been advocating for the Electoral College of the NPP to be strengthened and expanded to include the polling station executives because they are the ones who do all the ground work for the party.

“If finally this vision of his has become a reality, so that today all of you gathered here can now be part of the decision making process of the party, then it is time to also show him that you appreciate what he has done for you.”

The Victory 2012 team has since moved to the Axim, Half Assini area with their message of hope.