I’ll fulfill my promises - Akufo-Addo assures Ga Chiefs

President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs that he will be committed to fulfilling promises he made to Ghanaians during his electioneering campaign.

For instance, the promise of building harbours at both the James Town and Teshie townships, he reassured, will be implemented in the coming years.

“It is because of this [performance in the Region] that I am coming to thank you and to reiterate my determination to implement policies to develop the region,” he said in the Ga dialect.

President-elect, Akufo-Addo, said this when he called on the chiefs yesterday to thank them for their support and wise counsel.

The visit was Akufo-Addo’s first call on the chiefs since his declaration by the Electoral Commission (EC) as the winner of Wednesday, December 7 presidential elections.

Awed by his performance, Akufo-Addo was full praise for the chiefs whom he said played key roles in his landslide victory over his fierce contender, President John Dramani Mahama of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In this regard, he entreated the chiefs not to hesitate in advising him when they are convinced he is going off track.

“With this work, if you don't have people who will advise you, it will be difficult,” he said.

Earlier, the president-elect met with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of his party to discuss the transition process and persons to be appointed to the various ministerial portfolios.

There have been speculations on who Akufo-Addo will choose to help him govern the country.

Names have been suggested, but Mustapha Hamid, who is the spokesperson for Akufo-Addo, in an interview with media, said the competencies of the individuals would determine the kind of positions to be given them.

“I’m sure every stage has the competencies that are required and therefore in the wisdom of our President-elect these people have the competencies to take over the administration of the outgoing government," he said.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2016 elections recorded a stunning 21 out of the 34 seats in the Greater Accra Region. This was an improvement of its performance in the 2012 general elections.

The party also polled 52 per cent of the popular votes as against a disappointing performance by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Incumbent President John Dramani Mahama polled 1,125,751 in 2012 representing 52.31 per cent of the valid vote cast in the Region. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had 1,009,787 which is 46.92 per cent of the votes.