Ho, Jan. 12, GNA- Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday stormed the Volta Regional capital, Ho and proposed to reconcile the region.
"We will marry the Volta Region so that it joins us towards a new free Ghana built on reconciliation", Nana Akufo-Addo said. In tow was an-almost full armour of his former opponents in the contest to lead the party in this year's Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The tone for the courtship was set by an equally frank response by Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia at the forecourt of his palace with chiefs of the Asogli Traditional Council and people in attendance.
Nana Akufo-Addo said his main pre-occupation would be to bring the Volta region to join the majority as the party gears up to contest in every nook and cranny of the region to break the perceived invincibility of the National Democratic Congress there. He gave the assurance that he was firmly behind the party in the Region and would arm it fully for a major political battle hence his tour to pat them for their resilience so far in holding the bridge in a seemingly difficult terrain.
Togbe Afede, said, "let us reject politics that play on the forces that divide us, that play on sentiments, that make us uncomfortable, and instead forge the kind of alliances that will enhance our strength". He said, "the politics of our region needs to be interpreted within the context of the dirty and hate politics of the past, especially during the transition to democratic rule in 1992, when tribe based slogans were coined by short-sighted politicians".
"Voltarians have become unfortunate victims of the dirty politics from which they have not benefited much," Togbe Afede observed. He said it was imperative that the country was united "to confront the urgent developmental challenges and needs of our people. These are needs of our time and they must be met during our time". Togbe Afede urged politicians to be mindful of their conduct and ensure that their actions do not disturb the peace, which distinguishes the country in the sub-region.
