NPP, NDC turn Kwahu Ridge into campaign battleground
The Kwahu ridge, now the unofficial converging point of local Easter celebrations, assumed political importance last weekend when the two major political forces in the country literally climbed the mountain to campaign for votes.
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The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC), added political flavour to the events that have come to be associated with Easter festivities in the Kwahu enclave, bringing some excitement to the dull build-up to the occasion.
Led by their respective flag bearers, the two parties embarked on separate 'health walks', pulling along thousands of supporters in a frantic battle for political dominance. While the Vice-President and flag bearer of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, led hundreds of party supporters last Saturday morning in what was termed as unity walk, the former President and flag bearer of the NDC, John Mahama, followed up later in the evening, also with hundreds of party faithful to highlight the NDC's 24-hour economy campaign mantra.
Kwahu Easter celebration has gained popularity not only in Ghana but among people in the diaspora due to some of the activities that are held on the occasion.
It, therefore, draws revellers from far and near to some communities in the Kwahu enclave in the Eastern Region where the events are organised.
NPP
The NPP walk started at Kwahu Bepong at 6:30 a.m., from where they passed through the principal streets of the Kwahu enclave and ended up at the rally grounds at Mpraeso, where some executives of the party addressed the supporters.
The event was on the theme: "Let's arise and build Ghana together through unity walk". Some of the supporters wielded placards which read "It is possible to break the 8", "Unity is key", "Proven track record", "One constituency, One ambulance", "Teacher trainees allowance paid", "I am for Dr Bawumia,” and "NPP is the best party", among others.
In attendance included the National Chairman of the party, Stephen Ntim; the General Secretary, Justin Koduah Frimpong; the National Women's Organiser, Kate Gyamfua, and the National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye.
Others were the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong; the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mark Okraku-Mantey; a former General Secretary of the party, John Boadu; parliamentarians, ministers of state, parliamentary candidates, some presidential aspirants in the party's recent primary, and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives.
Scores of NPP loyalists clad in the party's colours and paraphernalia danced to blazing brass band music and 'jama' songs during the procession. The police were also on the grounds to provide security for patrons of the unity walk.
Some of them said that it was a joyous moment to walk together to rekindle the spirit of the party ahead of the 2024 general election.
Breaking the 8
Dr Bawumia told the supporters that the NPP government had in the last seven years performed better than the NDC, and that it was possible to "break the 8". He mentioned job creation, agricultural and industrial growth, roads, railways development, airport, current account balance, gross international reserves, hospitals and school infrastructure as some of the areas the government had performed better than the NDC.
Others are public libraries, fish landing sites, court system, digitalisation, digital addressing system, the Ghana Card, Zango Development Fund, interchanges, E-pharmacy, mobile money interoperability and digitalisation of the ports.
He said the projects bore testimony that the NPP government had performed better to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people, for which reason the electorate would support the party to continue its good works.
Youth in ICT
Dr Bawumia said if elected President, he would train one million youth in ICT, especially in software development, as well as support small scale miners through the minerals development bank with money to do their business without any hindrance.
Mr Stephen Ntim, who described the 2024 general election as crucial, called on party members to bury their differences and forge ahead in unity to win the December 7 polls. He said the NPP can only succeed at the polls if the rank and file of the party understood each other and forgave themselves.
The General Secretary of the party also said that the NPP was battle ready for the general election. He said Dr Bawumia would have the opportunity to rule for a period of eight years to improve on the economy instead of John Mahama who could only rule for a period of four years.
NDC’s 24-hour walk
The NDC's 24-hour Kwahu Easter walk started at about 6:45 a.m. at Atibie-Kwahu to unite members and rally them behind the umbrella family. Mr Mahama appealed to the chiefs and people of the Kwahu Traditional Area to vote for the party to win the December 7 polls.
That, he said, would enable him to continue and complete all abandoned projects initiated by the previous NDC government. The former President, who addressed a rally after the walk, mentioned some of the abandoned projects to include the Abetifi District Hospital, the Nkawkaw-Atibie road, among others.
He said it was during the NDC administration that the Kwahu enclave witnessed unprecedented level of development in the areas of education, health, provision of water and extension of electricity.
Appeal
Former President Mahama appealed to party supporters to be law-abiding at all times by staying away from trouble. The flag bearer later met with some women's group at Kwahu-Obomeng and told them that God-willing when he assumed the reigns of government, he would help address the economic challenges confronting the country to enable them do their businesses without any let or hindrance.
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