The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was on Saturday, June 18, given a tumultuous welcome by residents of the small seaside town of Moree, located in the Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese constituency, at the end of day 3 of his 5-day tour of the Central Region.
Described as an “unprecedented welcome” afforded any NPP leader, Nana Akufo-Addo was heralded into the town by thousands of residents, clad in NPP paraphernalia, amidst chants of “yeresesamu” echoing across the town.
With residents lining the only street leading into the town, once labelled a “no go area for the NPP” and also hometown of current Vice President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur, activities in the town came to a complete standstill, resulting in the NPP flagbearer needing over an hour to make the less than 1 kilometre journey into the heart of Moree.
The Chiefs and people of Moree, who had the opportunity to interact with Nana Akufo-Addo, lamented about the neglect of the town by the Mahama government, the result of which has been a near collapse of the fishing industry, coupled with rising and unbearable costs of living.
According to fisherfolk, in the last 7 years, they have been unable to keep up with the prices of inputs needed for the smooth running of their operations. With the price of an outboard motor being GH¢2,950 when President Kufuor left office in 2008, they noted that the price had shot up to GH¢12,000 under the Mahama-Amissah Arthur administration.
Again, they indicated that a gallon of premix fuel sold for GH¢1.80 when President Kufuor left office, but is now selling for GH¢7.30 a gallon, under President Mahama’s ‘Better Ghana’.
Thus, the massive welcome afforded Nana Akufo-Addo was their own way of saying “enough is enough”, and were ready to vote for the NPP in this year’s elections.
We will bring relief to fisherfolk
Visibly overwhelmed by the level of support shown him, Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the Chiefs and people for their warm welcome, with the firm assurance that his government, God-willing from January 2017, is coming to work hard to bring relief, progress and prosperity to all Ghanaians.
The NPP flagbearer laid the blame for the rising costs of fishing inputs and premix at the doorstep of the Mahama government, which, he said, had mismanaged the Ghanaian economy and destroyed its monetary and fiscal systems.
“The mismanagement of the economy by Mahama is the reason why you are now buying your outboard motors for GH¢12,000. It is also for the same reason why you are buying premix fuel for GH¢7.30 a gallon. It is only a change in government, the proper management of the economy and a stop to the theft of public resources that will enable us fix the economy and bring relief to Ghanaians,” he added.
On the construction of a landing site at Moree, which had been abandoned by the Mahama government after initial work by the NPP government in 2007, Nana Akufo-Addo assured the fisherfolk that “the preparatory works Gladys Asmah put in place to ensure the construction of the landing site, we are going to finish them and construct the landing site here in Moree and along the coastal belt.”
The NPP flagbearer urged the people of Moree to trust him to fulfil the pledge of constructing the landing site, stating that “I am not a liar and I don’t engage in politics of deception. Whatever I say, I do.”
He continued, “I am not into politics to steal the money of the poor people of Ghana. I came to make sure the little wisdom and knowledge the good Lord has given me, I put it to the beneficial use of Ghanaians, so that I can help bring relief, progress and prosperity to the people of Ghana.”
Nana Akufo-Addo appealed for the active support of Moree, in, firstly, the party’s attempt to annex the Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese seat, and secondly, in his quest to become the servant-leader the people of Ghana so ardently require.
“This is my third attempt, open the door for me and try me. Have faith in me and I will not disappoint you. I am coming to fix Ghana. Help support me, the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Elvis Morris Donkor, and we will bring programmes and policies to help you and every Ghanaian,” he concluded.
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