Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged the Zongo community in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, to have confidence in his ability to turn the fortunes of the nation around and vote massively for him come December 7, next year.
“We will make judicious use of the nation’s resources to benefit everyone,” he told the Zongo chief, Ali Kruibi III, his elders and teeming Zongo youth who had thronged the chief’s palace to welcome him and his entourage during the “Rise and Build” tour of the region.
Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied by his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; the National Women’s Organiser, Otiko Djaba; Alan Kyerematen and other party big wigs.
The NPP leader reiterated that he is not a thief, and that unlike the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, his NPP administration would be seeking the interests of all, without any form of discrimination.
“I am not a thief. I will not steal the nation’s resources; and the NPP government will be for all,” he stressed.
In a brief address, Dr Bawumia assured the chiefs and people of the Zongo communities that the NPP would not neglect them but rather work to elevate the status of those communities by improving education and promoting investment.
“If I neglect the Zongos, I will neglect myself because I am one of you,” he stated.
He said he entered politics not to make money, but rather to contribute to raise the standard of living of all Ghanaians, especially those in the Zongo communities.
The NPP vice presidential candidate presented 50 bags of cement and GH¢5,000 to the chief as the party’s contribution towards the construction of a palace, which is still ongoing.
Later at a meeting with members of TESCON – tertiary institution wing of the NPP – at the All Nation’s University, Dr Bawumia predicted that Ghana’s debt stock was likely to hit GH¢110 billion by next year.
The debt, according to him, now stands at GH¢93.4 billion – from GH¢9.2 billion in 2008 when the NDC took over the reins of government from President Kufuor’s NPP administration.
He said the NDC was compromising the future of the youth and it was therefore, time for a change.