The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate for the 2016 elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said the NPP is ever ready to ensure there are peaceful elections at all times, especially this year, provided those responsible for organising the elections organise them in a free and fair manner.

Nana Akufo-Addo said this when he addressed the people of Suma Ahenkro on the occasion of their Akwantu Kese festival over the weekend at the Jaman North District in the Brong Ahafo Region.

According to him, the NPP has always demonstrated its resolve for peaceful elections, citing 2012 when the party went to court to defend its right even in the face of clear rigging and provocation as an example.

This, he said, is because the New Patriotic Party is a party that believes in the rule of law. He, however, warned that this year’s election would only be peaceful if those in charge organised it in a free and fair manner so that the outcome would be accepted by all parties.

Nana Addo was accompanied by Alan Kyerematen, a former presidential aspirant of the party, Otiko Afisa Djaba, the party’s National Women’s Organiser, and some national and regional executives.

He received a rousing welcome as he went round to greet the chiefs and people of the area at the durbar grounds. Police and other security personnel on the grounds found it difficult to control the crowd as everybody wanted to catch a glimpse of him or shake hands with him.

Addressing the people, Nana Addo promised that the NPP would do nothing to cause violence but said if violence erupted, it would be from his opponents.

He asked the people of Jaman North to vote the NPP into power so that it would establish a Cashew Marketing Board just like the Cocoa Marketing Board to lead in the buying and pricing of the commodity which is predominantly cultivated in the area.

To the surprise and joy of the gathering, Nana Addo, after speaking in English for some time, changed the language to French because of the Gyemanghene who came from Cote d’Ivoire with his subjects to join in the celebration of the Akwantu Kese Festival.

He promised to assist the Suma Omanhene, Odeneho Dr Afram Brempong III, to realise his vision of establishing a satellite campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources at Suma Ahenkro to encourage higher education among the youth. He also promised to establish an International Cultural Centre to be known as Adinkra Village to attract tourists.

He donated GHc5,000 and some assorted drinks for the occasion.

Odeneho Dr Afram thanked the NPP leader for gracing the occasion and pleaded with the political parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully and not do anything to cause violence that would reverse the clock of development.