Some NDC members carrying Nana Akufo-Addo’s coffin at the party’s manifesto launch
THE RULING National Democratic Congress (NDC) took the 2016 presidential campaign to a shocking level as it stormed Sunyani, capital of the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Saturday with a coffin.
The coffin undoubtedly sent some cold shivers down the spines of most of the supporters of the ruling party, especially the women and the youth, who were at the party’s manifesto launch at the Sunyani Coronation Park.
Shockingly, the strange coffin was embossed with portraits of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the largest opposition political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The strange coffin was being carried by some energetic-looking members of the NDC. They arrived at the Coronation Park, venue of the NDC manifest launch, to a rapturous applause.
DAILY GUIDE learnt that NDC supporters who brought the coffin were from Bole, the hometown of President Mahama; and it was not clear whether he had sanctioned it as the coffin embossed with Nana Akufo-Addo’s posters was paraded openly with no protestation from any leader of the party.
The action of the NDC was coming at the time they had been making all sorts of derogatory remarks about the NPP flag bearer, alleging that he was suffering from cancer and kidney diseases, issues his personal doctor has dismissed.
Nana Akufo-Addo has often said the NDC leadership wants him dead, in order for the party to win the December elections.
He told a gathering in Bolgatanta in August after the Africawatch magazine’s publication about him having cancer: “It looks as if the only way the president will get a third term is when I am sick or I am dead. That is the only ground on which he will get his third term. Issues of life, death and health are in the hands of the Almighty. I will leave matters in the hands of the Almighty because I believe, and I continue to say, ‘The Battle is the Lord’s.’”
The NDC boys were seen moving the coffin from one end of the stadium to the other, as they sang dirges that suggested that the NPP leader had been defeated in the December 7 polls already by President Mahama.
According to them, the NPP presidential candidate had also been killed by the ruling party so they (NDC members) were taking his body to the cemetery for burial.
Some of the NDC supporters condemned the decision by some of the party members to carry a coffin, which most people consider as an evil act on such an important occasion.
They feared that the coffin at such an important party programme might attract bad omen for the ruling party during the polls.
But some of the NDC members stated that the party members did the right thing by coming to the manifesto launch with Nana Akufo-Addo’s coffin, stressing, “It indicated that victory belongs to the NDC.”
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr, Sunyani