I won’t discriminate against Ewes – Akufo-Addo

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated his commitment towards bringing wealth and prosperity to all parts of the country, without discrimination, when Ghanaians give him the mandate in this year’s election.

Responding to questions posed to him by some members of the Ewe community in the Fitter Line area of Ashiaman, on Wednesday, May 18, Nana Akufo-Addo appealed to residents, largely made up of inhabitants from the Volta Region, to ignore the NDC propaganda making the rounds that the NPP is an anti-Volta party.

In a townhall-like meeting at Fitter Line, Ms Francisca Ametepe, a representative of the women’s group in the area, noted that Voltarians are largely sceptical about voting for the NPP, even though they had been abandoned by the NDC, a party they vote for massively in elections.

“We are prepared to let bygones be bygones and try the NPP this year. I am asking, on behalf of my Ewe brothers and sisters, what you will do specifically for us Voltarians if we vote for you in this election?” she asked

Nana Akufo-Addo’s response to the question was that “there are all kinds of people in Ghana – Ewes, Ashanti, Gas, Dagartis, Mamprusis, Grunshis, Dagombas, amongst others. We are all one people. I am coming to do a job for every Ghanaian, not for Ashantis, Gas, Ewes, Dagombas or Akyems. I am asking you to trust me, and to have confidence in me. I am not coming to cheat anybody. I am coming to put all my energies to work for Ghana and not to steal people’s monies into my pocket.”

Togbe Afari, the Chief of the community, followed up this response by the NPP flagbearer with another question.

“If you want us to vote for you as a people, what policy will you implement to solve the problems of the area? As you know, about 60% of Ashiaman’s population are Voltarians, so what you do for us, you do for the people of Volta. What will you do to help the region so we can also help you break the NDC hegemony in the Volta Region?” he asked.

Nana Akufo-Addo noted that two main policy initiatives which will be undertaken by his government will affect all parts of the country, including the Volta Region.

“We are going to concentrate on two main things when you give us your mandate, which is how to develop our industry and develop our agriculture. These are the two main things we will put our energies in,” he said.

In order to boost production in Ghana, the NPP flagbearer explained that “import duties on raw materials will be scrapped. Import duties on manufacturing equipment will come in zero rate, so that we can strengthen our industries and production. That is how we are going to bring jobs to young people.”

On agriculture, Nana Akufo-Addo referred to the boom taking place in Cote d’Ivoire, where exports of 5 major cash crops earn the country $12 billion, whereas the value of Ghanaian agricultural exports earn Ghana a mere $2 billion, largely dependent on the export of cocoa.

“If we want to better these statistics, we need to focus on diversifying our agriculture to include cash crops like cotton, coffee, cashew, oil palm and maize in our exports. We will ensure marketing boards and a guaranteed price for all these cash crops so we boost agricultural production. The Volta Region will benefit from what I am saying,” Nana Akufo-Addo assured.

On the NDC’ tribal propaganda being waged against the NPP, he stated that “I don’t buy this propaganda. We are all one people in Ghana. Some people need to make this propaganda for their politics. We are one people in Ghana and we will stay as one people in Ghana.”

Nana Akufo-Addo will from Thursday, May 19, 2016 begin a 4-day tour of the Volta Region.