Nana steals show

Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was mobbed by a huge crowd that thronged the grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Juaben Traditional area in the Ashanti region to mark the 40th anniversary of Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Omanhene of Juaben.

Organizers of the event experienced a difficult time controlling the excited crowd shortly after the MC announced that the NPP flag bearer had arrived at the durbar grounds to grace the historic occasion.

When Nana Akufo-Addo who was accompanied by NPP gurus such as former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Anthony Osei Akoto, Kofi Konadu Apraku, Owusu Aduomi as well as former First Lady Theresa Kufuor and family arrived, all activities ground to a halt until they finished greeting the officials.

The elated crowd nearly turned the event into a mini rally as they chanted and sang party songs any time Nana Addo’s name was mentioned.

Almost everyone around wanted to catch a glimpse of the NPP presidential candidate while others particularly the elderly and the women wanted to shake hands with him.

A seventy six year old woman who could not hide her excitement spread her cloth on the ground for Nana Addo to walk on.

Others were seen crying for joy at having the opportunity to see the flag bearer personally. Some also showered praises on Nana Otuo Siriboe II for inviting Nana Addo to Juaben.

“For seeing Nana Addo today, when I die, I will be happy,” one Hannah Addae said, adding that “Nana Addo is my everything. God bless him.”

The atmosphere at the durbar grounds completely changed however when the MC announced the arrival of Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

The cheers from the crowd suddenly became hushed as the Vice president and his entourage began to move towards the dignitaries to greet them.

All efforts by the event announcer to ginger the crowd to cheer him on seemed to fall on deaf ears while others could still be heard chanting Nana Addo’s name instead.

“If the cheers received from the crowd today were going to be used to decide who will win the next general elections, Nana Addo would have flogged the vice president hands down,” one man said.

Similarly the crowd was unresponsive as the Municipal Chief Executive of Ejisu Juaben, Afrifa Yamoah Ponko announced the donations from the vice president to the Omanhene.

As Nana Addo left the place, the atmosphere was still charged. Security personnel had to intervene before the NPP flag bearer and his entourage could get space to drive through.