RE: Demonstration At Sefwi-Wiawso

The attention of the NPP 2008 Campaign has been drawn to a report on the above carried by “CHRONICLE” today.

Kindly permit me to correct some erroneous impressions created by your reporter. First, the campaign was not embarrassed in the least by the demonstration. As your reporter correctly indicated, the demonstration was neither inspired by nor targeted at Nana Addo and/or his entourage.

Second, the demonstration occurred between six and six-thirty in the morning, four clear hours before the campaign event and quite a distance from the venue of the campaign event JOHN BITTAR HALL. Thus the NPP Presidential candidate never witnessed the demonstration. There demonstration never threatened the campaign event.

Third, the demonstrators, who are members of the local Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), were protesting the introduction of METRO MASS BUSES into the area. They contend that while the buses will make transportation more available to the public and cheaper, it will take business away from them. Thus the demonstration was a very powerful unintended acknowledgement of the NPP government’s commitment to improving the lives of ordinary people.

Finally, the demonstrators showed up in significant numbers to hear Nana Addo speak and answer questions. When given an opportunity to ask a question, they declined on grounds that they already had a meeting scheduled with the Western regional administration which they were sure would address their concerns. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Signed:

ARTHUR KOBINA KENNEDY (CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE, 2008 NPP CAMPAIGN)