Fisher-folk along the canoe beach area of Tema-Newtown felt a different wave from the usual sea waves they were used to when the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) blazed through the coastal area with its flag-bearer, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom.
Fishing activities virtually came to a halt with scores of enthusiastic fishermen and fishmongers together with vibrant youth gathering at the sea shore to welcome the Edwumaruwa.
The invasion was part of the last leg of the PPP’s nation-wide tour which begun two weeks ago.
Dr Nduom in his address called on the fishing community to vote wisely come the December 2012 elections.
He remarked that Ghanaians have been voting for the NDC and NPP since 1992 but have gotten virtually nothing in return; “the lives of Ghanaians haven’t changed.”
“Nothing concrete has been added to our lives since 1992,” he added.
He therefore called for the need to ‘give PPP a chance’ to make life better for Ghanaians.
He promised that a PPP government would provide the much needed jobs the teeming youth are crying for adding that the PPP is a solution minded party.
The 2012 presidential candidate of the PPP also entreated all party supporters to eschew politics of violence, encouraging them to comport themselves and run a clean campaign to see the party come to power in 2013.
Touching on galamsey operations in the country, Dr Nduom mentioned that though it was an illegal activity in the law books of Ghana, much had not been done to arrest the situation.
He cited a particular case in Naagode, a small town in the Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region where some Chinese and Koreans were engaged in the galamsey practice.
He therefore questioned the commitment of government in solving the issue, lamenting that government was watching unconcerned for the foreigners to practice galamsey.
Prior to that, Dr Nduom was on Adom FM, a local radio station in Tema, giving his message of change to listeners.
He also met with some executives of the fishing community in Tema.
Dr Nduom and his entourage then proceeded to the Ashaiman market where an awesome crowd thronged the market to receive him.
Dr Nduom, buoyed by the overwhelming multitude, walked from the market through the principal streets of Ashaiman to the chief’s palace.
At the chief’s palace, Dr Nduom presented two bottles of schnapps to the chiefs and elders together with an unspecified amount of money.
The Gyaasekye of Ashaiman, Nii Adjetey Kommey, in his remarks, thanked Dr Nduom and his team for their kind gesture.
He noted that they as chiefs are not permitted by the state to do politics but would definitely support any politician who wants to bring development to their people.
He bemoaned the practice where politicians consult and pay homage to chiefs during their campaigning but neglect those chiefs when they come to power.
He therefore urged Dr Nduom not to follow in the same vein.
The team proceeded to the Ashaiman market for the final leg of the tour in the town.