Supporters of the Party turned out in their numbers not just to renew their faith and loyalty, but also to send a strong signal to the other contesting political parties that, they indeed have a real battle on their hands.
Clad in party "T" shirts and other NPP paraphernalia, they started massing on the streets and the rally grounds amidst dancing to brass band music, beating of the gong-gong, whistle-blowing and shouting of slogans before noon.
As President John Agyekum Kufuor and the man hoping to take over from him, come January next year, drove in, the crowd responded with deafening cheers, waving of flags and wriggling of waists to the Party's adopted campaign song, Filippa Barfi's "Go - Go - High". All the 16 NPP Presidential aspirants, who lost the contest to Nana Akufo-Addo, were there to demonstrate the unity of the Party. President Kufuor, introducing his Party's new Leader, said the coming poll was about nothing but institutional leadership, a choice of which political party could provide the right leadership to help the country to continue on the path of progress.
The NPP, he said, within the past seven-and-a-half years had proven to be a party of vision and this has transformed the fortunes of the nation.
The result has been that, Ghana was now a model of good governance and has become the toast of the international community. President Kufuor also spoke of the massive infrastructure development that had taken place under the watch of the NPP Government and expressed confidence that the Party would be returned to power by the electorate.
He gave high marks to the Government for the job done and said he did not expect Ghanaians would make the political mistake of voting for another party to roll back the progress the country was making. He called on the people to ignore the propaganda of their political opponents against the Party's Flag-bearer, adding that they had intentionally chosen to be silent and to maintain their cool in the face of provocations for the sake of national peace and unity. Nana Akufo-Addo condemned "politics of divide and rule" and promised that if elected, he would ensure the unity of the country. He declared that he was seeking for political power not to make money for himself but to serve the country and said Ghana was now on the threshold of prosperity due to the pragmatic policies of the Kufuor administration. Adding that his Government would build its achievements to take the nation forward.
He praised President Kufuor for his exemplary leadership, dedication and productive work. The economy at long last is beginning to work and Ghana has become the admiration of the international community, he said.
Mr Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman, asked the Party's members to rise above petty differences and to use the Party's structures for the resolution of whatever problems they had. Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; Mr Allan Kyerematen; Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo and Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, all losers at presidential primaries of Party, were among the Speakers at the rally. 13 July 08
| Source: GNA |
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