POLITICAL PUNDITS who described the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) amazing 2016 electoral victory in the Central Region as just a flash in the pan, have to quickly start revising their notes.
This is because if what transpired in Cape Coast, the capital of the Central Region, over the weekend is anything to go by, then the region is rapidly emerging as one of the strongholds of the NPP.
Virtually all the principal streets of the city were inundated by enthusiastic-looking party members, who were nicely dressed in the red, white and blus colours of the ruling political party.
The party’s colours were also seen strapped to electric poles, trees and most of the houses in the city.
2016 Polls
With a meagre seven parliamentary seats in 2012, the NPP, against all odds, increased its seats to a staggering 19 out of a total 23 during the 2016 elections.
The contribution of the people of Cape Coast ensured the massive victory of the NPP and its then flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Despite the convincing victory, some people, who are clearly opponents of the ruling party, believe that the impressive victory in the region is a fluke.
Massive Invasion
Virtually all the residents of Cape Coast were seen nicely dressed in NPP paraphernalia as they welcomed the party’s delegates, who had travelled from all the 275 constituencies in the country.
The manner in which the NPP members took control of the entire regional capital would clearly make anybody who witnessed it to believe that indeed, the NPP has taken over the region for good.
Kufuor Dazed
Even no mean a personality than former President John Agyekum Kufuor, confessed that he had been thrilled about the sharp increase of NPP membership in the Central Region, particularly, Cape Coast.
“Today is one of the happiest days in my entire political life because on my way to the rally grounds at the Victoria Park – a journey which is supposed to last for a few minutes – it rather lasted for about 50 minutes.
“On my way here I also saw enthusiastic-looking youth, who were clad in the NPP colours that were walking here and have thus blocked the road due to their huge numbers, causing massive vehicular traffic,” he sounded elated.
Mr. Kufuor, who had been in active politics for over four decades, said what he saw in Cape Coast gave him hope that the NPP has a strong future in the city and the entire region.
He was speaking during a mammoth rally to climax the 2017 annual Delegates’ Conference which was graced by President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Alhaji Bawumia, among others.
Nana Addo
President Akufo-Addo, on his part, stated that the entire NPP members were grateful to the people of Cape Coast in particular and the Central Region as a whole, for voting massively to help the NPP to enter the Flagstaff House.
He gave the assurance that even though his administration inherited a huge debt from the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, he would implement policies that would lead to the growth of the entire country.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr & Charles Takyi Boadu, Cape Coast