VP Amissah-Arthur appeals for prayers for political leaders and parties

Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur on Thursday appealed to religious leaders and traditional authorities not to relent in their prayers for political leaders and parties for an incident free political campaigning. He said the safety of politicians was necessary in the campaign and appealed to all to pray to avoid accidents on the politicians; to speak words of peace and unity as they solicited for votes in the run-up to the December elections. Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who is also the running mate of President John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), made the appeal when he called on Nene Abram Kabu Ackuaku, Paramount Chief of the Ada Traditional Area, at the start of a two-day tour of the Greater Accra Region.  The tour is to introduce himself to the traditional rulers in the area as the running mate of the sitting president John Mahama and solicit their support for victory in the 2012 polls. Vice President Amissah-Arthur acknowledged with appreciation the role of traditional leaders in the national development process and pledged continuous Government consultation and collaboration in the administration of the state. While predicting a decisive win that would come with the support of all, the Vice President declined to make any promise, explaining that from his countrywide tour, it was obvious that the people of Ghana would endorse the NDC for a second term to continue with the development projects it had begun. He commended the people of Ada for keeping faith with the NDC over the years and asked them to do same in the next elections.  "I've come to introduce myself to Nene. I hope I would work with him for the next four years," Vice President Amissah-Arthur said. Nene Ackuaku, who is also the President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, urged political parties and leaders to conduct their campaign in peace. He commended the Vice President on his assumption to the second highest political office of the land and expressed the hope that he would support President Mahama to handle the affairs of the nation. Nene Ackuaku thanked the late President John Atta Mills for fulfilling his promise to start Ada Coastal Defence Project and appealed to the Government to extend the project to all communities in the district. He also appealed for an improvement in the road network in the area, as well as an administration block for the newly created district assembly at Sege. Nene Ackuaku further appealed for Government support in getting a limited liability company for the salt industry in the area.  He conferred the title Odeopeor (Man of Words and Action) which he had given to the late President Mills on President Mahama, expressing the hope that the current President would continue from where the late President left off. "The flame of the NDC is still burning in Ada. Ada believes you are doing well. We believe God will help the NDC to be victorious," Nene Ackuak said. Vice President Amissah-Arthur later introduced Madam Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah as the aspiring NDC MP for the area. Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, MP for Ningo Prampram, who was on the Vice President's entourage, announced that Parliament, before rising last week  had approved a loan for the coastal protection project for all coastal communities in the Greater Accra Region. The delegation also interacted with the fisher folk at Elavanyo Beach, and addressed the people of Pute, where the Vice President urged them to vote for Madam Cudjoe Ghansah to increase the representation of women in Parliament. This, he said, would make for the promise of the late President Mills for the NDC Government to give them more responsible political positions in Government.

 GNA