Business booms in Kumasi as Akufo-Addo meets Otumfuo

Traders in the capital city of Ashanti Region, Kumasi, yesterday made huge sales from their wares when the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, paid a courtesy call on the occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo, Osei Tutu II, at Manhyia Palace.

The call on Otumfuo, which was to thank him and Asanteman Council, was Akufo-Addo’s first visit, following his victory in last week’s presidential elections.

Both sides of the road from the Dr. Mensah part of Kejetia to the Manhyia Roundabout was filled with countless traders who sought to take advantage of the presence of numerous New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters.

Different kinds of NPP paraphernalia were on sale from the early hours of yesterday as supporters and sympathisers of the party rushed for them.

Some of the traders, Today observed, were excited at the huge sales being made.

“'We are already feeling change in our business,” one of traders who gave his name as Emmanuel Mensah told Today.

He added: “Even when Nana Addo has not yet been sworn in, people are not afraid to spend, hence the tremendous improvement in sales in our businesses in the past five days.”

Akufo-Addo met the Asanteman Council to outline some key programmes and projects he would implement to bring about development in the region.

He also used the occasion to thank the chiefs for their support in an election which the incumbent President, John Dramani Mahama, was predicted to win.

Some residents of Kumasi who spoke to Today in an interview were optimistic that Akufo-Addo will deliver to the satisfaction of all Ghanaians.

“I am aware that he is coming and by God’s grace he has done well and Ghanaians have voted for him, we expect him to do well. To do what he has for us—one-village, one-dam and one-district, one-factory,” a Kumasi resident said.

“This election was about Kumasi so Nana is here to say thank you. From there he will be at the Central Market to interact with the people. Nana will definitely deliver,” another resident confidently expressed.