The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, received a rousing reception on his way to Anloga, at the commencement of his 4-day tour of the Volta Region.
Described as a reception never witnessed or afforded any presidential candidate of the NPP in the Volta Region, Nana Akufo-Addo was met with chants of support for his candidature en route to the Keta Nursing and Midwifery College, and later to the palace of the Awoamefia, Togbui Sri III.
Popular NPP chants such as “Yeresamu”, “ase? h?”, “Nana oo Nana”, “eshi rado rado”, “we are moving forward”, amongst others, greeted the NPP flagbearer and echoed along the principal streets of Anloga.
At the Keta Nursing and Midwifery College, the NPP flagbearer was mobbed by students of the college as he made his way into the school. The College, located within the Keta Hospital, also saw staff of the hospital exchanging pleasantries with the NPP flagbearer.
Nana Akufo-Addo used the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment towards restoring the teacher training and nursing allowances when he wins this year’s presidential election.
“I have already said it and I am going to repeat it. Teacher training and nursing training allowances are going to be restored when we win. When Ghana did not have oil, because of prudent management of our economy, Kufuor could afford to pay teacher training and nursing allowances,” he said.
He continued, “Today we have oil, and because of the NDC’s mismanagement of the economy, they cannot pay the allowances. The NDC government has cancelled them. We are going to restore the nursing and teacher training allowances.”
This assurance from Nana Akufo-Addo drew spontaneous and rapturous applause from the hundreds of nursing students gathered to meet and listen to the NPP flagbearer.
With the Keta Nursing and Midwifery College commissioned by the Kufuor-led NPP government, Nana Kufo-Addo explained that “it was during the time when our late colleague, comrade and my great friend, Courage Quarshigah, was the Minister for Health that the Keta Nursing and Midwifery College was commissioned. It is a place which means a lot for us in the ‘Kukurudu Party’ and that is why before I start my official tour, I said I will come here and say hello to you.”
Touching on the widespread despondency, suffering and hardships in the country, the NPP flagbearer appealed to the people of the region to give him their support so the dwindling fortunes of the country can be changed.
“There is no work, and too many difficulties and poverty. I want you to help me. This time I have come here because I want to build a new relationship with the Volta Region. I want to build a new relationship of trust, a relationship of confidence. I know you have heard all kinds of things about the party and of myself. But all these things they are saying, here I am. They speak to you as if I have horns. I don’t. I am a small man with a big heart for Ghana. I need your help this year. I need you to lend me your thumb,” he added.
Presenting some items to the college, in memory of the late Courage Quarshigah, Nana Akufo-Addo assured the staff and nurses that his government is going to “rebuild the economy of Ghana so there will be jobs and prosperity again in our country. I need your support for that and I need your d?gl?v?tu (which means thumb in Ewe).”
On behalf of the Nursing College, the principal administrative officer of the hospital thanked Nana Akufo-Addo for his gesture and wished him and the NPP well throughout the entire duration of the campaign.