On behalf of the Akwamu Traditional Council, Nana Asare Akowua, Krontihene of the Akwamu Traditional Area, has declared the “unflinching and unalloyed support” of the Akwamu Kingdom, to the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
This declaration of support by the Akwamu Traditional Council, according to Nana Asare Akowua, is because “he (Nana Akufo-Addo) is an Akwamu, and will do the job.”
According to Nana Asare Akowua, “had it not been his (Akufo-Addo’s) quest to ascend the highest office of the land, we had a stool in Akwamu for him – the Nana Bakai stool. If he is, thus, seeking the Presidency of the land, we back himfully.”
The Krontihene of the Akwamu Traditional Area made this known on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at Atimpoku in the Asuogyaman constituency, where the NPP flagbearer campaigned as part of his 4-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region.
In the presence of thousands of residents and NPP sympathisers at a night rally held at Atimpoku, Nana Asare Akowua reiterated that “because he is one of us, I am, on behalf of the Akwamu Kingdom, stating here and now, that we are going to vote massively for him so he wins the elections.”
And on 7th January, 2017, the Krontihene of Akwamu noted that “when the handing over ceremony is being done, power will be handed over to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. On 7th January, we are sending a son of the Akwamu Kingdom to occupy the seat of government.”
Nana Asare Akowua, on behalf of the Akwamu Traditional Council, also used the opportunity to publicly dissociate itself from recent comments by its acting president, Osuogyasono Yaw Boadu IV against Nana Akufo-Addo. Osuogyasono Yaw Boadu IV is reported to have said that the Council will perform rituals to remove the image of the NPP presidential candidate from the ballot papers during the December 7 elections.
“Akwamus have no rituals that influence elections. We wish to assure the people of Ghana that we do not engage in rituals to delete contestants from the ballot paper. We cannot remove someone from the ballot paper spiritually. What our brother said was out of exuberance and over excitement, and, perhaps, he wanted to say something to please some people,” he said.
Nana Asare Akowua, thus, appealed to the “Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP not to pay heed to the statements made by our brother (Osuogyasono Yaw Boadu IV). Kindly ignore it completely.”
Appealing to the NPP flagbearer not to “forget your people when you come into office”, Nana Asare Akowua noted that youth unemployment within the Akwamu Kingdom remains the biggest challenge, following the collapse of the Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL). Which, whilst in operation, employed some employed 8,000 workers.
“Nana Akufo-Addo has assured the nation of establishing 1 factory in every district. The only factory here in Asuogyaman is ATL. But, under some people, this factory has collapsed. So when he comes, he should look for investors so ATL can be revived,” he said.
The Krontihene of Akwamu noted that ATL provided employment to residents from 4 districts namely, Asuogyaman, Yilo Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo and North Tongu.
“Thus, even if he does not bring factories here, the revival of ATL will provide jobs for the youth in 4 districts,” he added.
Nana Asare Akowua also appealed to the NPP flagbearer to construct the roads in the Asuogyaman constituency, with particular mentions of the Marine to Gyakiti road; and the Apegusu-Anyanso to Mpakadan road, which, he said, have been neglected over the last 8 years.
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