[ 2012-09-21 ]

Oda Rocks For Nana
The flagship policy of Nana Akufo-Addo, flagbearer
of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to provide free
senior high school education when Ghanaians vote
the NPP into power seems to be catching up with
rural dwellers.

People of the Eastern Region, especially those in
the Akim Swedru and Oda constituencies where Nana
Akufo-Addo on Tuesday commenced his eight-day tour
of the region, came out in their numbers to meet
him while chanting “free education”.

Major towns like Akim Achiase, Akim Swedru and
Akim Oda came to a standstill when Nana
Akufo-Addo, with his campaign team, reached the
people with his message of hope.

From Kokoben, Anamase through to Achiase,
Akenkansu, Aperade, Akortey Krom, Aduasa, Awisa
and Akim Swedru in the Akim Swedru constituency,
people lined up on the roads and the streets
displaying placards with the inscriptions, 'Free
SHS', 'Free Education' and 'Nana We Are Waiting
For The Free Secondary School Education'.

Nana Akufo-Addo's arrival at Achiase, where the
NPP parliamentary candidate comes from, threw the
whole town into a frenzy. Incidentally, the
parliamentary candidate of the ruling National
Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Akyem Appea-Kubi,
also comes from the same town. The town was
completely awash with NPP colours.

The elderly, men, women and children poured onto
the main street of the town to welcome Nana
Akufo-Addo, bringing activities in the town to a
standstill.

The NPP flag-bearer thanked the people for the
massive support shown him and urged all of them to
turn up at their polling stations on December 7 to
translate their support into votes for him and the
party.

He said the free senior high school policy was a
strong possibility despite skepticism on the part
of the NDC and its flag-bearer.

“I have come to you in person to give this promise
of free secondary school education to you, which
will start from next year if you vote the NPP into
power,” he said to loud cheers at Presby School
where he held a mini rally.

“I am not using the TV or the radio or any other
media platform to give this promise. I have come
to you in person to give you this promise and so
everybody must take me by my words,” he stated.

He said the argument by his opponents that there
was no money to finance the free secondary school
education was preposterous, stressing that Ghana
had enough resources to help finance the free
education policy.

“We have gold, cocoa, oil and improved taxes but
the NDC government can only afford to give the
nation's money to people free of charge,” he said,
stressing that within the three-and-half years
that the NDC had been in power, it had borrowed
more money than all other governments put together
had done but Ghanaians were not seeing any
improvement in their lives

According to him, President Mahama benefited from
free secondary school education about 40 years ago
under President Nkrumah's free education for the
three northern regions; yet he was strongly
opposing this 'laudable policy'.

“President Mahama had the benefit to have free
secondary education in the north and now he is the
president of the Republic of Ghana so in the same
way, we want to provide that opportunity to any
other Ghanaian child, irrespective of his social,
religious or political background,' Nana stated.

Nana Akufo-Addo urged all Ghanaians to embrace the
free SHS to ensure that Ghana attain a respectable
level of development.

At Akyem Oda, Nana Akufo-Addo gave the same
message and the people received him with pride.

Nana Akufo-Addo's tour of the Eastern Region took
him to the Ofoase/Ayirebi constituency after Akim
Swedru and Oda and will be in Koforidua today to
continue with his hope restoration campaign and a
fund-raising event.

Source - Daily Guide

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