The New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaign team, in conjunction with the Ashanti Regional Council of Churches, yesterday held a praise-and-prayer festival at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, asserting that the battle in the December 7 polls is the Lord's.

Ahead of yesterday's service, former President Kufuor said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has resorted to desperate vote buying in order to remain in power.

He therefore asked Ghanaians not to allow themselves to be influenced with money ahead of the December 7 elections.

“They are just spending money anyhow. Don't be influenced with money. Even if you give them 10 more years in government, they will still fail the country,” he said, after worshiping at the Kumasi Central Mosque with the NPP's running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Mr. Kufuor said after NDC's failed promises, it has resorted to vote buying to avoid defeat.

The former President said: “NDC is claiming credit for schools they didn't build. Also, roads that they didn't build, they said they were constructed during their tenure and same applies to hospitals among others.

“We want someone to serve the nation. When the NPP was in power, banks were chasing you with loans. The NDC is now managing the country's finance without accounting for a penny. They are giving chiefs four-wheel drives and giving motorbikes to young men in return for their votes.”

The Battle Is The Lord's

The NPP's praise-and-prayer festival which began around 2:00 p. m., under the theme: “Jericho Shall Fall”, was the second of its kind to be organized under the auspices of the party's campaign team headed by Boakye Agyarko.

The occasion brought together high profile personalities of the NPP including the party's presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Former President Kufuor and National Chairman Jake Obestebi Lamptey among others.

It offered opportunity to the party to seek the face of God for a peaceful election and favour of God for victory.

The stadium was filled to capacity with the people outside more in number than those inside.

The Kumasi metropolis was painted in red, blue and white colours of the NPP, creating a massive traffic jam.

Nana Akufo-Addo, who believes “the battle is the lord's”, took the third reading from the books of Chronicle and 1st Samuel 17:47 and asked the gathering to join him in this purely spiritual exercise.

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Jake Obestebi Lamptey took the second and first readings respectively.

In a sermon, Rev. Dr. Steve Asante, President of the Ghana Baptist Convention, said the prayer festival is an acknowledgement by the NPP that prayer is key and that “Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain”.

According to him, the recognition of prayer as the important factor for victory in the December polls is the right way to go.

He intimated that Ghana needs leaders with integrity to ensure growth and development for a country that is poverty stricken, asking the Electoral Commission and the security to guarantee peace during and after the polls.

Rev. Asante asked Nana Addo and all members of the NPP to be on the side of integrity to secure victory, observing that the party members have always showcased uprightness and integrity.

The man of God stated that the walls of Jericho came down not by bullets of guns, but by prayer and the sounding of trumpets.

He requested God to be with the NPP presidential candidate as Nana Addo has shown commitment to the development of the nation.