MAHAMUDU BAWUMIAH OUTDOORED

By Samuel Amoako & William Yaw Owusu, Sekondi

Monday, 18 August 2008

DR Mahamudu Bawumia, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana was yesterday outdoored as the running mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party at a mammoth rally at Takoradi to climax the party’s national delegates conference.Image

It was an atmosphere of joy, jubilation, and excitement as Nana Akufo-Addo raised Dr Bamumia’s left hand and said "this young man is an achiever whom the party has selected to support me to present a solid ticket for the December poll".

At this juncture the crowd which was comparable to that of the outdooring of Nana Akufo-Addo at Kasoa on July 13th, responded with shout, "Nana-Bawumia, Go,go-high".

The NPP flag-bearer said Dr Bawumia has a concrete credentials in economic management adding, "the NPP has made a wise decision by selecting a Muslim running mate from the northern part of Ghana to support a Christian flag-bearer to accelerate the country’s development.

Speaking in both English and Twi, he said: "We are going to build on the solid foundation laid by President Kufuor and we invite everybody to be part of this".

The teeming mass of party supporters and sympathisers at the congress

Nana Akufo Addo said the NPP is the only political party with a credible programme for the development of the country and the vision outlined will be achieved under his presidency.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Bawumia said the December election is about the determination of the future of Ghanaians and urged the electorate not to be deceived.

He said President Kufuor has been able to stabilise the economy and "I will assist Nana Akufo Addo to continue with the good work of President Kufuor."

He said despite the continuous crude oil price hikes, the government has been able to withstand the pressure with sound economic policies, adding, "we have displayed economic competence".

Earlier when President Kufuor addressed the crowd he said, "I am happy and feel fulfilled that I have been able to achieve something for Ghana and Nana Akufo Addo and Dr Bawumia will continue from where I left off."

He said the NPP has an unfinished agenda and urged the electorate to vote for the NPP to enable it to complete the agenda.

He said, "the party has a destiny to fulfil by leading Ghanaians out of enslavement to true freedom and justice."

Touching on the Western Region, the President said the government has secured a $65 million to construct a warehouse with 100,000 tonnes capacity at Kejebil near Apowa in the Ahanta West District.

Other people who addressed the crowd included party stalwarts, Vice President Aliu Mahama, Interior Minister Kwame Addo Kufuor, Party Chairman Peter Mac Manu, General Secretary Nana Ohene Ntow, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Kennedy Agyepong, Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Kojo Balado ‘Manu, Mrs Gifty Kusi, Laud Commey, and Mrs Gladys Asmah.

As early as 10 a.m. people, clad in NPP colours thronged the Takoradi Polytechnic Park where the rally was to start at 3 p.m.

By 2 p.m. the place was filled to capacity with some enthusiastic supporters standing by the roadside to await the arrival of President Kufuor, Nana Akufo Addo, Alhaji Aliu Mahama , Dr Bawumia and other leading party functionaries.

At exactly 4.31 p.m. Nana Akufo Addo entered the rally grounds in an open-topped vehicle acknowledging cheers from the crowd. He was closely followed by President Kufuor who sat in his car waving to the crowd.

Ace actress, Grace Omaboe, popularly called ‘Maame Dokono’ electrified the already charged atmosphere when she compared President Kufuor to the biblical Moses and Nana Akufo Addo to Joshua who have come to liberate Ghanaians just as Moses and Joshua did to the Israelites.

Musical legends, Nana Kwame Ampadu and C.K. Mann sent the crowd in a frenzy with some of their old hits while hip-life artists such as Wutah, Praye, K.K.Fosu and Castro, also showed the stuff they are made of.