As part of his programme to build a society of opportunities in Ghana, the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has announced that the next NPP administration, under his leadership, will introduce a development fund for the Zongos and other deprived communities in urban Ghana to confront the socio-economic challenges which the inhabitants face.
Called the Inner-city Development Fund, this critical social policy for urban regeneration will form part of the NPP manifesto commitments. The party�s manifesto for the December elections is to be launched in August.
The NPP leader made this known yesterday when he addressed the people of Akwadum Zongo in the New Juaben North Constituency in the Eastern Region.
Nana Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, have been touring parts of the Eastern Region as part of their nationwide �tour to restore hope�.
Nana Addo said �Governments are elected to introduce policies and programmes that will raise the standard of living of the people, especially those living under deprived conditions.�
He added �It is important that we pay urgent attention to the zongo communities in our country�, adding, �It is a policy that is long overdue and if God willing and the Ghanaian people so consenting, we come back to power, we will do it for you.�
He appealed to the elders and people of Zongo communities to reject the NDC and their propaganda that the NPP did not like Muslims and people living in Zongo communities.
He said the NPP had demonstrated over the years that �we are the party that has the welfare of Muslims and the people of the Northern regions at heart and that is why we consistently select our running mates from there�. �In fact, in the history of our country, the only Muslim Vice President we have ever had is Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and he got there on the ticket of the NPP.�
He reiterated his commitment to providing free senior high school education for all.
No Woyome
Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated that there would be nothing like �Woyome scandal� under his presidency as had been witnessed in the Mills administration.
He accused President Mills of not being in charge of his own administration, hence such a financial scandal under his watch.
The NPP leader therefore appealed to Ghanaians to vote for him and the NPP to come and restore hope and bring back the economic fortunes which were left by President Kufuor�s administration.
Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking to enthusiastic party supporters at a rally at Kyebi as part of his tour of the Eastern Region, which began on Saturday.
Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that the reason for starting the campaign from his hometown was because �charity begins at home� and that it was important for him to start from home so he could get the support and blessings from family members and sympathizers.
He said the ruling NDC government had nothing good for the people of Ghana, looking at the unbearable hardships Ghanaians were experiencing. Nana Akufo-Addo said the NDC government seemed to be taking Ghana backwards instead of implementing policies that would help improve the living standards of the people.
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