Akufo-Addo’s Manhyia Palace Rally Collapses

THe flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has incurred the wrath of some Ghanaians, following his recent accusation that, the John Dramani Mahama led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, has neglected the Ashanti Region.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs inside the Manhyia Palace; the seat of the Ashantehene last Thursday in Kumasi, Nana Addo, took everyone by surprise, when he told the gathering that the Mahama government, has neglected their region, despite it rich mineral resources. His statement was similar to Yaw Osafo-Marfo’s Akan supremacy comments.

“The undeniable truth is that the Ashanti Region is home to a great deal of Ghana’s wealth – our cocoa, gold etc.

However, the talk emanating from the region is not a good one. Everywhere I have been to, I am met with phrases such as ‘Nana come and save us’, ‘Nana, we are suffering’,” the NPP flagbearer, said this at what appears to be a political rally, inside the respected Manhyia Palace.

Nana Akufo-Addo, who has since been reminded of the many developmental projects ongoing in the Ashanti Region, was in the palace accompanied by the ex-President, John Agyekuma Kufuor.

But the accusation, seems not to have gone down well with some Ghanaians. They expressed surprise at the behaviour of the 72-year-old politician, who is making history as the oldest presidential candidate in Ghana’s electoral records.

Many of the people who commented on various websites which shared the story, especially facebook, expressed anger and shock, wondering if the three times opposition leader, has been monitoring developmental projects by the government, especially in that region.

On Accra-based Citi FM facebook page citifmonline.com, some aggrieved Ghanaians, did not only express surprise, but they shared pictorial evidence of the many Ashanti Regional projects initiated by the Mahama government.

Some mentioned projects such as the Kumasi Shoe factory, the ultra modern Kejetia Market, which will be the biggest in Africa, Kumasi Shoe Factory, providing sandals for basic schools and the security services, Military Hospital, Asawase Market, Rattray Park; recreational park located in Kumasi, asphaltic roads, Mampong Water project, Kumasi Airport expansion, Tepa district hospital.

Others enumerated the Adugyaman Senior High School (SHS), the Fomena Hospital, the Eye Centre, the Obuasi Lorry Park, the Sofoline Interchange, Barekese water project and many more.

In short, some of the comments described Nana Addo as a very dishonest politician, who is living in self-denial.