By Frank Amponsah
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday held a mammoth rally to whip up support for Lydia Seyram Alhassan ahead of the coming by-election in Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Greater Accra Region .
Speaking at the rally in Accra to wrap up the campaign activities ahead of Thursday’s by-election, the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo assured of the continuity of the good work started by the late Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, in the constituency.
He first expressed appreciation to the constituency leadership and supporters for the work they have done over the years.
According to him, many people thought he was coming to deceive them, but he has been able to fulfil 41 of the promises he made to the people of Ghana.
He said: “We came to transform Ghana. We are transforming Ghana and by the end of this term all will see that yes, Akuto-Addo is a man of his words, a man of integrity and a man of competence.”
“The battle still continues to be of the Lords,” he stressed.
He said the Lord had used him to bring peace to Dagbon after many years, and added that he would continue to do that until the people of Ghana one day, would ask him to rest.
He urged the constituents to vote massively for Lydia Seyram Alhadsan for her to continue the good works her late husband started in bringing development, transformation of Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.
Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the NPP candidate promised to continue what the late MP started and said, she was prepared to work hard to move the constituency forward.
According to her, she said she will prioritize road infrastructure and health.
She also said, youth entrepreneurship, women empowerment, Security, Cleanliness and many projects are in his priority list which she will implement to be able to bring the needed transformation to the constituency.
Clad in a mourning cloth, Lydia Alhassan appealed to the constituents to keep the NPP in order for them to continue the good works of this Government.
The by-election which comes off on Thursday, February 1, 2019 became necessary after the demise of the former Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Emmanuel Kweku Agyarko.
Speakers who addressed the gathering took turns to tout the many achievements of the NPP administration in two years whilst espousing the enormous work the late MP had done for the constituency, for which reason the party must be voted for to continue in that spirit.
They also described the candidate, Lydia Seyram Alhassan who is a wife of the late MP as a very industrious woman who had all the qualities to continue what her husband started for the constituency.
They said the NPP achievements could not be compared to that of the NDC and that there is no reason why the NPP will not be given the chance to win the by-elections.
The Vice President, Dr. Alhasan Mahamadu Bawumia, in his message to supporters said voting in the coming by-elections is to honour the late Agyarko and also to send a message across to the opposition that the NPP has zero tolerance for incompetence.
He said it was because of the incompetence of the NDC that the NPP in opposition called on the people with a simple message: “Let’s replace incompetence with competence, the man without vision with the man of vision. That is why Nana Akufo-Addo was elected president and his works in the last two years are manifestation of his competence.”
He said the NDC during their term had no teachers tanning allowance, making it difficult for people to pay fees hence the NPP called for a replacement which Ghanaians gladly endorsed.
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonus urged voters and supporters of the party not to be complacent after the elections but keep the fire on till election 2020, when the NPP as a party in government will be given another endorsement.
Kennedy Agyapong also revealed that the elections is to appreciate the good work of the late Emmanuel Boakye Agyarko in the Ayawaso Constituency.
The MP for Dome Kwabenya, Hon. Sarah Adjoa Sarfo, MP for Asin North, Asante Regional NPP Chairman, Mr. Antwi Boasiako. Hajia Alima Mahama, Ursula Owusu, Rita Talata Asobayere, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Alan Kyerematen, Madam Frema Osei Opare, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu all graced the occasion to amass support for the candidate.