President John Mahama’s accounting to the people tour of the Ashanti region is of keen interest to the main opposition party, the NPP, because that is its stronghold. Political analysts and other observers are particularly interested in developments there because the governing party is targeting one million votes in the 2016 Presidential elections to break NPP’s backbone. Prior to the President’s arrival on Tuesday, day-1 of the tour, scores of party supporters thronged the airport to welcome him while hundreds lined up the road to Asawase to catch a glimpse of the President. Many arrived as early as 8am because the President’s flight was expected to touch down at 10. As they waited the crowd became thicker and security men had difficulty protecting the main gate and those who entered milled round the President. President Mahama was met on arrival at the Kumasi Airport by the Ashanti regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon, Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, Ashanti regional Police Commander, COP Kofi Boakye, NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and other party executives. The atmosphere was euphoric as people from all walks of life mobbed the President’s convoy amidst drumming and dancing while young men on motor bikes displayed in appreciation of the visit. “I had to sneak out of office to see the President. I am happy I didn’t miss him”…jubilant Osei Kusi of Prof. Quarm Limited said. Another foot soldier proudly said “I know Kumasi Airport, it is usually quiet and the scene here is like Mecca during Hajj” President John Mahama joined a durbar at Asawase, a Muslim dominated community where he explained the purpose of his tour. In attendance was the Council of Zongo Chiefs in Kumasi. They represented various communities including the Moshi, Frafra, Mamprusi, Dagomba, Builsa, Grunsi, Gonja and Wangara. The rest were the Wala, Guruma, Kamtoshi, Kusasi, Gao, Zabarma Bargu, Kado, Tsokosi and Baribari communities. Also present to grace the occasion were their queen mothers and local Imams. In a brief message they thanked the President for his bold initiatives including infrastructure development which has benefitted the community, Kumasi and the region at large. “Your work has endeared you to the heart of the people of Kumasi. A good intention even when not fulfilled is a blessing. Our Communities are endowed with many talents and skills. We pray that in the near future we are considered for appointments such as Ministerial, Ambassadorial and other positions. The Sarkin Zongo Chiefs and all the people of Asawase wish you very well in your endeavours” And there was spontaneous response and cheers of Atakbir!, meaning ‘God is great’ In a brief address, President John Mahama said “When someone gives you a job or power you have to go to them and account to them. It has been three months since we started. Ashanti Region is the seventh. When you look at the past three and half years you can observe that we have done very well. Ashanti is the second in population density. So it require immense socio-economic infrastructure. To our people who are fasting I give you Barka da Azumi” In response to a specific request for the construction of the Aboabo drain, President Mahama said the project has been approved by Parliament and that tender has been opened. “Very soon I will come and cut sod for the work to start” he added. From there, the President joined the milling crowd on a walk to the Asawase market to inspect an ongoing project. Later in the afternoon, President Mahama and his entourage moved to Kumawu where he inspected a 120-bed hospital project. The Sekyere Afram Plains District Hospital facility when completed will be the second largest in the region after the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, KATH. It has a traditional medicine centre and the first of its kind in Ghana. According to the Project Architect and Design Manager, Mr Grant, the Kumawu District hospital consists of 22 Quarters for Doctors and Nurses. The project has so far created over 450 jobs and it is expected to be delivered by early November. Foreman for the labourers, Omono Asamoah, expressed gratitude on behalf of his colleagues to the President for the project which he said has offered him a job to enable him look after two of his children at secondary school. The Chief of the area extolled President as someone who promises and delivers. To him many politicians have come and gone over the years. But it is only President Mahama who promised and has delivered. He also used the occasion to draw government’s attention to tension brewing in the area between indigenes and the Fulani community and pleaded for intervention to ensure peaceable coexistence. President John Mahama after inspection ongoing works said it will be one of the largest well equipped facilities in the whole of Africa. In response to the request, Mr Mahama appealed to the people to keep the peace since Ghana is noted for being a model democracy and a peaceful nation. At Piase near Kuntenase, the atmosphere was charged as the people waited till late evening, for the arrival of the President. He quickly went ahead to cut the sod for construction of the New campus of the Kumasi Polytechnic Centre for Renewable Energy. The new project will be cited on a 200 acre land donated by the Chiefs. In his address, Rector of Kumasi Polytechnic, Professor Nicholas Nsowah Nuamah, thanked government for the bold decision to help relocate the campus. He also expressed gratitude for a 16 block of flats to be soon completed. Professor Nsowah Nuamah disclosed that the facility which will be converted into a Technical University will increase enrolment by 50 percent when completed. Education Minister, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, also emphasized on the commitment to expand technical education to fill the human resource gap as Ghana’s development accelerates. “We believe in Technical education. And government has advanced that belief into a concrete communique which allowed us to reconceive the idea of Polytechnic education. It is this government which has decided to realize that. When our President's say in each state of the Nation addresses that we need to add value to our primary product, it means we need to train our students to be able to do so” On day two of the tour, President Mahama will pay a courtesy call on his Royal Majesty, Asantehene and the Asanteman Council at Manhyia Palace. He is also expected to meet the Ofinsohene and address to a Dubar of chiefs there by Midday. Activities planned for the day include the inauguration of a brand new Mahama Day Senior High School at Adugyama in the Ahafo-Ano South District. He will also move to Adobewora in the Atwima Mponua District to commission another Community Day Senior High School. The two projects according to a brief statement from the Flag Staff House, will give about 2,200 Ghanaian youth access to secondary education aside the numerous job opportunities they will create. On day three of the tour, the President will have a breakfast meeting with the business community and identifiable groups. On Thursday he will pay a courtesy call on Adansihene at Fomena from where he will inspect the Fomena hospital project. The Accounting to the People Tour will later take the President to Adobewora in the Atwima Mponua District New Edubiase where he will cut a sod for a new sports stadium. The packed event for the day also include the inauguration of an ultra- modern Girls Dormitory at the Bekwai SDA Senior High School. This facility can accommodate over 1,200 students of the School.
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