‘Freeman’ Akufo Addo’s Unending Promises

It all began with the presentation of his major policy thrust at a New Patriotic Party youth seminar in Tamale nearly two years ago, to transform Ghana in just under a decade.

Addressing the closing ceremony of a workshop organized for NPP researchers from the ten regions, NPP’s Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that his party is preparing a comprehensive programme of industrialization and modernization that can transform Ghana’s economy in a matter of one decade.

Ever since then, the man, christened Mr. FREEMAN by Dr. Michael J.K Bokor, a Ghanaian English lecturer based in the US, the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, “has been promising everything that comes to his mind as if that’s all politicking for the December elections is about”.

According to the respected Ghanaian Lecturer, “I will provide free this, free that, free everything,” has become Akufo-Addo’s buzz campaign message. At the last count, The Al-Hajj has tallied over one hundred ‘free’ projects, programs and policies enunciated by Nana Akufo-Addo since he won the flagbearership of the NPP in 2010, all to be executed in his first term in office, in the unlikely event that he becomes president.

Akufo Addo’s latest freebie was to Otumfuo and Asanteman Council. He promised to build an interchange at Kumasi Kejetia and upgrade the Kumasi Airport into an international one, when elected into office as president of Ghana. Addressing the Asanteman Council on Thursday, 8th November, when he paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace, Akufo-Addo said the two issues are very important to the party and that he would spearhead a transformation of the region if elected as president. Nana Akufo-Addo is in no doubt going into the upcoming election with fully parked arsenals of freebies. On the educational front, he has expressed his willingness to introduce Free Senior High School Education and also build 350 new SHS building.

According to the NPP flag bearer, all students in the University would also enjoy free education under his educational policy in 2016.

The NPP flagberearer has also promise to wipe out illiteracy; Nana Addo also pledged to increase Ghana's power generation to 5,000 megawatt; as if that was not enough, he has promised to build 100,000 houses. Cocoa farmers were not left out of the political ‘Father Christmas’ goodies as he has vowed to process 60 per cent of Ghana’s cocoa locally in the next six years.

For the market women, he has sworn heaven and earth to provide free market buildings. The numerous female head potters popularly known as Kayayei would have some sigh of relief under a Mr. Freeman’s presidency as he has also promised to build Hostel for them.

To win the Zongo votes, Mr ‘Freeman’ Akufo Addo has promised to setup a Zongo Development fund.

Next in his bag of freebies was a promise to all Ghanaians of a grand plan by his government to reduce poverty and create wealth for Ghanaians as a measure of improving the quality of their lives.

The former Akyem Abuakwa South Member of Parliament has also promised that, if he wins this year’s elections, he will bring the Fisheries Ministry back and fisher folks will have a voice around the cabinet table and their concerns will be articulated at the highest level of government.

With barely two weeks to the election, Ghanaians are still living in suspense, waiting when ‘Mr Freeman’ will fish out one of his freebies not yet in the public domain.