Nana Akufo Addo Storms Kumasi

Teaming crowds of people thronged the Prempeh Assebmly Hall in Kumasi to catch a glimpse of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo Addo. He was to address his first rally in the Ashanti Regional capital since becoming leader of the party in December 2007. The rally was to shore up support for him in his presidential bid. Nana Addo, speaking to the enthusiastic crowd at the Prempeh Assebmly Hall said the elections were held today, Thursday, February 28, 2008, he would have won by a huge margin. He advised the party supporters clad in party colours to verify their names in the voter register to enable them exercise their franchise come December 2008. He was accompanied by former Ministers who contested the flag bearership of the party but lost to him. The move is believed to be an attempt to demonstrate that the NPP was united after a congress that many believed would break it. The defeated presidential hopefuls made brief statements at the rally. Former Tourism Minister, Mr Jake Obetsebe Lamptey told Luv FM’s Sampson Laadi Ayinene that all supporters of the NPP were solidly behind Nana Addo. Responding to suggestions that the NPP was not confident of winning the elections, he said the party did not want to take chances. Earlier Nana Addo and his entourage called on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The Otunfuo reminded the NPP presidential candidate that Ghanaians had huge expectation from the next president. He advised Nana Addo to avoid being over complacent. Otumfuo Osei Tutu also cautioned him against counting on President Kufuor’s goodwill, adding that although Former President Rawlings had a lot of goodwill, the flag bearer of the NDC could not use it to win the 2000 elections. After the rally, Nana Addo drove through some of the principal streets of Kumasi, acknowledging cheers from ecstatic crowds, standing on the roof of his vehicle.