The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says he will not stop appealing for the support and votes of the electorate ahead of the conduct of December 7, 2016 elections.
Nana Akufo-Addo made this known on Wednesday whilst campaigning in the Klottey Korle constituency, on day 2 of his 3-day tour of the Greater Accra region.
The NPP flagbearer’s comments come on the back of remarks made by President Mahama, in the Brong Ahafo Region, to the effect that the NPP flagbearer should stop appealing for the support of Ghanaians. President Mahama also urged Ghanaians not to vote for the NPP flagbearer, stating that “we are winning and you want Dede Ayew and Asamoah Gyan to be substituted so a rookie can play, it does not make sense.”
Nana Akufo-Addo, on his part, whilst addressing artisans at the Arts Centre in Osu, stressed that “I won’t stop appealing to Ghanaians for their vote today, neither will I stop doing so tomorrow.”
According to the NPP flagbearer, “you (President Mahama), on the other hand, who is destroying this country, want the people of Ghana to maintain you in office for another 4 years? No, that will not happen. That is why elections are held. The people of Ghana are coming to get rid of you (Mahama) and bring in a competent government that can do the work for Ghanaians.”
Quoting from the popular Akan adage which says “if a game will be entertaining, one can tell from its beginning”, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that Ghanaians from all parts of the country are reeling from the effects of mismanagement, incompetence and corruption that has Mahama government, and have come to the conclusion that President Mahama cannot help improve their living conditions.
“You have been in high office for 8 solid years, 4-years as Vice President, 4-years as President. Yet, we are unable to tell what you have done for Ghanaians. So are Ghanaians going to entrust their mandate to you for another 4 years? Definitely not”, Akufo-Addo said at the Arts Centre.
He assured the gathering that “we are coming into office to fix our broken monetary system, revive the National Health Insurance Scheme which has been collapsed by President Mahama; effectively implement the Free SHS policy; and help create jobs through the 1-District-1-Factory policy, amongst others.”
Akufo-Addo added: “All these policies are things I can do. This is why I am emboldened to come before the Ghanaian people and tell them that, God-willing, when I win, I am coming into office to implement these policies, so we can return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity.”
Tour of Ayawaso Central
Prior to his tour of the Klottey Korle constituency, Nana Akufo-Addo campaigned in the Ayawaso Central constituency, where he interacted with business owners, residents and NPP members and sympathisers.
His tour of the constituency took him to Alajo, Kotobabi ‘Trotro’ station, Newtown Post Office, Malata market and ‘Tip-Toe’ Lane, at Circle.
Accompanied by the MP for the constituency, Hon. Henry Quartey, who is also the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency; former Greater Accra Regional Minister and former MP for Ayawaso Central, Sheikh I.C. Quaye; NPP Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Ishmael Ashitey, and his regional executives, amongst others, Nana Akufo-Addo assured constituents of an improvement in their living conditions when, God-willing, he wins this year’s elections.
At ‘Tip-Toe’ lane, widely acknowledged as the capital’s mobile phone wholesale and retail hub, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was mobbed by hundreds and hundreds of business owners, assured business owners that his government, God-willing from January 2017, will provide a conducive and enabling business environment needed for their businesses to flourish.
With the major concerns of business owners at ‘Tip-Toe’ Lane being the unstable nature of Ghana’s currency, high interest rate charges from banks, as well as high import duties at the ports, they told the NPP flagbearer that these problems posed serious challenges to the survival of their businesses.
The NPP flagbearer assured that “we, in the NPP, are coming to change Ghana and ensure that our monetary system is solid, so that we can have a stable currency. When this happens, you, as business people, and your businesses will grow.”
However, to ensure that this happens, Nana Akufo-Addo appealed to the thousands of businessmen and women at ‘Tip-Toe’ Lane to support his bid for election in this year’s polls, stating that “I need your support. Have confidence in me, and I assure you that I will never disappoint you.”