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Politics of Tuesday, 8 January 2013

Source: Daily Guide

Kumasi goes dead

Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, was on Monday morning predictably quiet, like a ghost town, when President-elect John Dramani Mahama was sworn into office to begin his first term as President of Ghana.

The jamboree and wild celebrations which normally characterize such a historic and festive occasion were missing in Kumasi.

There was no indication that Ghana, of which Kumasi is the second largest city, was inaugurating its president-elect, with a flamboyant ceremony in the nation’s capital of Accra.

The people that DAILY GUIDE spotted were going about their businesses as if nothing important was going on in the country, but political observers were not surprised at all.

Taxi drivers were seen busily delivering services to the people, as traders concentrated on how to make brisk business on the day.

Kumasi, without doubt, is the strongest fortress of the largest opposition political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which coincidentally is contesting results of the presidential polls in the Supreme Court.

Since President Mahama was adjudged winner of the December 12, 2012 presidential polls, the people in the city, who are mostly NPP faithful, have questioned the fairness and genuineness of the results of the polls.

Kumasi also hosted post election demonstration organised by the NPP leadership, led by party chairman Jake Obestebi-Lamptey and Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, NPP General Secretary.

Most of the people in the city that DAILY GUIDE spoke to said the inauguration of President Mahama in Accra would not provide three square meals on their dining table so they saw no need to jubilate.

Kennedy Otchere said the NDC did not promise anything that would help to better the lives of the people during their campaign, therefore he was not expecting any significant changes in his life with President Mahama in office.

Asked why he was not jubilating at a time when a new president of his country was being ushered into office in a peaceful fashion, he said the ceremony in Accra was done because the constitution permitted it.

Kennedy, who is a staunch NPP fan, was optimistic that the Supreme Court would soon overturn the 2012 presidential results in NPP candidate Nana Akufo Addo’s favour.

Surprisingly, the teeming NDC supporters in the Garden City were also not openly jubilating over the inaugural ceremony of President Mahama.

Kennedy said “they are also quiet because they know that very soon the credible winner would be sworn into office.”

The paper however spotted a few NDC fans in the city glued to their television sets keenly watching proceedings at the inaugural ceremony of President Mahama in Accra, but in a quiet fashion.