The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is calling on all Ghanaians to vote for their future on December 7, stressing that the poverty and hunger that have engulfed the country under President Mahama are no respecter of tribe or ethnicity.
According to him, the impact of the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy is being felt by every Ghanaian in the form of rising costs of living, high utility tariffs, record levels of unemployment, fuel price hikes, a weak currency, dwindling economic growth, low real wages, high interest rates, amongst others.
Nana Akufo-Addo explained that, in spite of this, opponents of the NPP are going about the country preaching the politics of ethnicity and division, all in the name of scoring cheap political points and in the bid to win this year's elections.
Addressing residents of Dadiesoaba, in the Asutifi South constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region at the commencement of his 4-day tour of the region yesterday, the NPP flagbearer noted: "for election purposes, some will come amongst you and say that the NPP does not like you, and when the NPP comes into office, we are going to drive you away from this land. All these are lies, with no iota of truth."
He stressed: "the hunger that is upon the land, under the leadership of President John Mahama, is no respecter of tribe; neither does it discriminate against any ethnic group. Will hunger bypass you all because you are a Kusasi, Dagarti or Northerner? No! It is affecting all of us."
To this end, Nana Akufo-Addo urged the residents, which include a large section of settlers of northern extraction, not to entertain the politics of division, urging all ethnic groups living in Dadiesoaba to live in unity, and, with one accord, push out the non-performing Mahama government on December 7.
He explained that with a good government at the helm of affairs in the country, coupled with the implementation of sound policies, Ghana will be returned onto the path of progress and prosperity.
The next NPP government, Nana Akufo-Addo assured, will "revive the collapsed National Health Insurance Scheme, ensure the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy, and reallocate Ghana's capital budget to ensure that every constituency receives the equivalent of $1 million a year to tackle issues relating to infrastructural development."
On his '1-District-1-Factory policy', Nana Akufo-Addo announced a plan to establish a ginger processing facility for residents of Dadiesoaba, whose mainstay is the cultivation of ginger, as well as cocoa.
"This processing facility will create jobs for the youth in Dadiesoaba, as well as put money in your pockets. These policies I am telling you about are not vote buying policies. I won't come before the Ghanaian people and say things I know I cannot fulfil. I will never lie to Ghanaians. All these policies I have espoused are ones which have been well thought through. It can be done, that is why I am saying this to you, and asking you for your support," the NPP flagbearer said.
He continued, "Ghanaians have become miserable under President John Mahama. We live on a rich land, and yet we are hungry. If God wills it, my government is coming into office to change all of this and return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity."