The popular Malata Market and its environs Friday afternoon came to a standstill when Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo for the December 2012 elections, hit the market to interact with the market women and also to seek the prayers and support of various groups in the area.
Accompanied by his wife, Samira, former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheik I C Quaye, National Youth Organizer of the NPP, Anthony Karbo and former National Women’s Organizer of the NPP, Madam Rita Asobayere, Dr. Bawumia first called on the chief and elders of the Hausa Community in Malata to seek their prayers and support for the upcoming Campaign and Elections.
The team also called on Bolgatanga House, where the team again sought prayers and support from the elders of the Frafra community.
In introducing Dr. Bawumia at the various points, Sheik I C Quaye stated that in view of religious diversity of Ghana’s population and the fact the Muslims are sizably represented across the length and breadth of the Nation, it was fair and appropriate for Muslims to get a representation at the highest seats of government.
He described Dr. Bawumia as an affable, young and intelligent man who was going to partner Nana Akufo-Addo to deliver competent governance.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in addressing the Chiefs and elders, spoke of the NPP coming into office with well thought out programmes and policies that were meant at improving the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He mentioned the free Senior High School education policy which he said would ensure that all children get fair and equal access to go through education to an appreciable level. He added that Education was the key solution to ending deprivation and developing oneself for a better life.
Dr. Bawumia indicated in his interactions that the free SHS policy would, for example, benefit the many brilliant young ladies would end up as head potters due to their inability to afford the cost of going through Senior High education.
Dr. Bawumia also mentioned an Inner City Development programme which he said would see to the uplift of among others the various Zongo communities.
The Chiefs and elders of the Hausa and Frafra communities thanked Dr. Bawumia for showing great respect and calling on them. They noted that the New Patriotic Party was a party which had done well to embrace and promote Muslims and people of the North, citing the many national officers of the party of Northern extraction including Alhaji Moctar Bamba, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, Otiko Djaba and Sheik T. D Damba, second National Chairman of the Party.
The Chiefs and elders expressed their joy that after giving the nation its first Muslim Vice-President in the person of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the NPP was offering the Muslim community another potential Vice-President.
Dr. Bawumia and his team following the visits to the leaders of the two communities entered the Malata Market where they were mobbed by hundreds of Market women and buyers who cheered the team loudly as Dr. Bawumia proceeded to interact with several market women and traders in the Market.
At a gathering in the centre of the Market attended by a large crowd made up of Market women, head potters, residents of Malata and the Mamprugu Community in Accra, Dr. Bawumia spoke passionately of the need for change in this year’s December General Elections. He noted that in his interactions with the Market women and several others, it was clear that the suffering and hardships of the people of Ghana had increased instead of being lessened.
He described Nana Akufo-Addo as one who was zealous in his belief that the lives of the ordinary people should be improved and urged everyone to get registered in the Ongoing Biometric Voter’s Registration in order to enable them participate in the December elections.
