President Akufo-Addo brought his three-day campaign tour of the Ashanti region to an end Wednesday evening with a mini rally at the famous Abbey’s park at Ashanti New Town (Ashtown) in the Manhyia South constituency where Education Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate.
Prior to his arrival at the rally grounds, the President decided to do a drive-through in the Bantama township where Deputy Chief of Staff, Francis Asenso-Boakye is the NPP Parliamentary Candidate after commissioning a new district police headquarters at Bohyen also in the Bantama constituency.
The entire Bantama township was almost turned upside down when he got there with almost every street and pavement covered by supporters mostly uniform-wearing Senior High School students, market women and supporters clad in party colours with blurring sounds from the usual vuvuzelas which has become synanymous with political activities in the country.
Apart from the chants of ‘four more for Nana’ with a show of the ‘four more’ sign that they displayed, the people followed the President’s convoy on foot from Bohyen through the Abrepo junction to Bantama which is thought to be the ‘Florida’ of Ghana’s politics with chants of ‘yÉ›pÉ› free education, yÉ›mpÉ› mortuary’, ‘yÉ›pÉ› free education, yÉ›mpÉ› okada’ in the Twi language mixed with English which simply translates as ‘we want free education, not mortuary’ and ‘we want free education, not commercialising motor transport’.
President Akufo-Addo was given a similar reception when he entered the Suame Magazine spare parts market where Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu is the NPP Parliamentary Candidate.
Several traders who had closed could not help waiting to see and hear him speak.
Most of them waited with bated-breath in front of their stores to catch a glimpse of the man who brought the ‘Free SHS’ policy.
Upon hearing the blurring sirens from the presidential motorcade, the entire Magazine enclave went gaga with people rushing to meet the convoy with the usual chants of ‘four more’.
President Akufo-Addo asured the traders of his government’s continued support in his next administration if God and the people of Ghana wills.
They could not but assure him of their support and votes.
All this while, neighbouring Ashtown was lit, with scores of people waiting patiently for the President’s arrival at the Abbey’s Park where he scheduled tl address a mini rally.
They had taken over almost every street and pavement, causing serious human and vehicular traffic to the rally grounds, compelling people to literally abandon their vehicles midway and walk to the location.
Then came the moment when the President climbed up stage.
The entire place went haywire amid jumping and dancing to tunes from a mounted public address system.
Dancehall artiste, Samini was the icing on the cake when he mounted the stage to perform his ‘Kpoyarka’ song which talks about the sterling performance of Akufo-Addo since becoming President on January 7, 2017.
As if not enough, the crowd could not control themselves when the President rose to speak and as part of his introduction mentioned ‘fellow Ghanaians’ to spontaneous chants of ‘yeeeeeee’.
He then asked Asanteman and Ghanaians to vote massively for him and all NPP Parliamentary Candidates across the country come Monday, December 7 when the country head to the polls.
That way, he said he can continue his good works with the solid foundation he has laid in his first term of office.
The supporters in turn shouted ‘four more’ with a promise to deliver him and his government another four year mandate.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent