Akufo-Addo visits Nima, Maamobi

The flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday received a massive welcome when he toured the Ayawaso East and North constituencies reiterating his promise of the Zongo Development Fund aimed at facilitating the welfare of  Zongo communities in the country.

Speaking mainly on the NPP’s manifesto of setting up a Zongo Development Fund, he said it would be the first time in the history of the country that such a policy would be implemented.

He said the fund would be aimed at reviving and regenerating our Zongo people resident in the most densely populated Zongos.

The Zongo communities, he said, provided avenues for business activities, social conditions and other economic factors that could be well exploited for development purposes.

Zongo communities left behind

But over the years, Nana Akufo-Addo said, they had been left behind in the development planning process.

That, he said, had led to inappropriate interventions, absence of social services and inadequate physical infrastructure.

He, however, noted that Zongos were vibrant places with opportunities in culture and tourism that if properly invested in, could create jobs and economic growth at the community level.

The Zongo Development Fund, he explained, would invest in education, training and development, improve infrastructure and would target health, sanitation, support local businesses, and provide information and security.

He also entreated the people to break away from the tradition of voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and  ensure that they effected change in the leadership of the country by voting the NPP into power.

Massive turnout

The campaign tour of the two constituencies witnessed a massive turnout of people of all ages who welcomed him with shout and jubilation amid the chanting of “we need change.”

The flag bearer, who barely had the chance to alight from his vehicle, in view of the denseness of the supporters, had to stand in the open-top vehicle to wave at the gathering and sometimes address them.

Nana Addo also paid courtesy calls on identified chiefs and opinion leaders where he implored them to give support to his third attempt at becoming the president of Ghana.

At Nima, where the flag bearer of the NPP lives, the huge crowd that turned out on the streets made the movement of his convoy very difficult.

As the convoy attempted snaking through the people who had taken over the streets, there were others who stood defiant, insisting that until they were addressed by Nana Addo they would not give way.

Supporters invade Nana’s house

In that instance, he had no option but to address them from his vehicle with intermittent shouts that sometimes drummed out what he was saying.

The excited crowd could not be calmed down even as the flag bearer made the exit to his home as they ran alongside his vehicle all the way to his residence.

The security operatives at the residence of Nana Addo had a tough time as the crowd pushed into the residence and the security had no other option than to allow them in.

Ultimately, Nana Addo addressed them and thanked them for their support before he retired to his inner quarters.