Main opposition presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo has reacted directly to President Mahama’s description as an insult, his free housing promise for homeless girl porters or Kayayei as they are known locally.

The two presidential candidates are both touring different parts of the Northern region. They have been sparring lately over housing for vulnerable Kayayei who migrate down south from the Northern regions to scrounge a living.

President Mahama recently said his opponent’s promise was an insult to all Northerners.

But Nana Akufo-Addo told party supporters in the region on Thursday that the ruling party’s claim that it had a similar programme in its 2004 manifesto betrays the hypocrisy in the criticism.

“It appears the president has forgotten what his own party in its manifesto in the year 2004. This is what I’m talking about – Mahanesia,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.

Nana Akufo Addo said President Mahama and the NDC either implemented or had plans to implement a lot of the things they are now criticizing and wonders why the party is making a lot of u-turns in its 2012 campaign.