Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (seated) and Nana Akufo-Addo
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has assured President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that his good works in the Ashanti Region “will speak for him”, going into the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II gave the assurance yesterday when President Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace, at the commencement of his three-day working visit of the Ashanti Region.
“Your good works in office will speak for you, going forward into the election. We, in Asanteman, remember; we do not forget. Asanteman will therefore remember your good works on election day. All I can offer you is prayers and blessings,” he said.
Addressing a durbar held in honour of the President, the Asantehene thanked the President for his continuous visit to Manhyia, both as leader of the opposition before the 2016 elections and as President of the Republic.
Even though chiefs and traditional rulers are not to engage in partisan politics, the Asante noted: “We vote. We will vote based on the good works of the candidate.”
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II therefore urged President Akufo-Addo to direct his communicators and information dissemination machinery to “tell Ghanaians exactly what his government has done and what is being done” in their respective communities, in the run-up to the December elections.
1,824 projects in Asanteman
On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked the Asantehene and Asanteman for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation on their arrival at Manhyia.
He explained that the purpose of his visit was to officially introduce himself, once again, to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate ahead of the December elections, and to seek his blessings for the contest.
The President also used the opportunity to introduce all of the NPP’s 47 parliamentary candidates from the Ashanti Region. He appealed for the support of the Asantehene and Asanteman to enable the NPP annex the three remaining constituencies, Asawase, Ejura Sekyedumase and Sekyere Afram Plains, which eluded the party in the December 2016 polls.
Touching on his record in office, President Akufo-Addo told the Asantehene that development under his tenure of office has been distributed equitably to all parts of the country.
In the Ashanti Region, for example, the President indicated that a total of 1,824 projects are being undertaken, out of which 774 have been completed and 1,050 are still ongoing.
He told the Asantehene that there are 604 projects in the education sector; 92 in health; 151 road projects; 606 in the water and sanitation sector; one in aviation; and one in the ports sector.
The Boankra inland Port project, which has been on the drawing board for several decades, according to President Akufo-Addo, is set to receive parliamentary approval in November, with the $330 million funding required for its construction already secured by the government.
Kumasi Airport project
Meanwhile, the President has inspected works on the 500-bed military hospital and Phase II of the Kumasi Airport project.
The President cut the sod for work to commence on the Kumasi Airport project on June 6, 2018.
He explained that the expansion of the airport was a critical part of government’s vision to expand the frontiers of the aviation industry in the country, and to realise the dream of making Ghana an aviation hub in West Africa.
The project encompasses the extension of the current length of the runway by 319 metres, i.e. from 1,981 metres to 2,300 metres; construction of a new terminal building, with the capacity to handle one million passengers per year; construction of an apron area and related taxiway; and the undertaking of ancillary works.
500-bed military hospital
The President also visited the site of the construction of the 500-bed military hospital at Afari, in Atwima Nwabiagya South constituency.
Former President Kufuor granted executive approval for the project on November 4, 2008. The project includes the construction of a 250-bed regional hospital; 160-bed regional hospital; 100-bed municipal hospital; and 50-60-bed district hospitals in the early part of 2008 at a total cost USD519, 000,000.00.
President Akufo-Addo received the assurance of the CEO of Euroget de Invest, contractors for the project, that the 500-bed military hospital will be completed by December this year.
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