The presidential running mate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. John Dramani Mahama has declared that Kumasi and the rest of the Ashanti will no longer remain the political “world bank” of the New Patriotic Party (|NPP).He said, although the region has since 1992 stood out as a mass support base of the ruling party, the tables have now changed and the NPP will not enjoy that privilege again.

Hon. Mahama, who was addressing supporters of the NDC party at a party function in Kumasi last Friday, expressed gladness over what he believed was a warm reception accorded to the party by chiefs in the region. The Bole-Bamboi MP was part of a large NDC entourage including the flag bearer, Prof. John Evans Mills, general secretary, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Ashanti regional chairman of the party, Mr. Daniel Ohene Agyekum and other top brass of the party who were on tour of Kumasi and other parts of the region. Before converging at the Prempeh Assembly hall for the main party event, the leadership of the NDC had first visited the Suame-magazine industrial area and the Kejetia and race course lorry terminals.

Hon Mahama said he was overjoyed to see large crowd at each stop of the entourage and was therefore confident that the jinx surrounding Ashanti as the political “world bank” of the NPP has broken. According to him the warm reception received by his party was indication of a changed in political leadership and the NDC is the vessel of that change. The running mate who is also the minority spokesperson on foreign affairs said, Ghanaians need a change in leadership and the character of Prof. Mills makes him (Mills) the best person to usher the change.

According to him, he recalled hearing the President, John Agyekum Kufuor during his time in opposition calling on the electorate not to be scared of changing the NDC and Hon. Mahama thinks the message aptly describes the country’s current situation. He was of the opinion that the NPP has since 2001 failed to deliver on their elections 2000 campaign promises of improving the economy and making life meaningful for Ghanaians.