The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has called on the people of the Ashanti Region to vote out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for taking them for granted despite the overwhelming support the region has given the party in past elections.
Speaking during a rally at New Edubiase as part of his Ashanti Regional tour, Mr. Mahama criticized the NPP for failing to deliver meaningful development to the region.
He noted that while the Ashanti Region has consistently provided the NPP with large numbers of votes, the government has neglected the region’s infrastructure and other developmental needs.
“Despite the Ashanti Region’s loyalty, the NPP has brought little to no significant development here. The NDC, however, is all about development, and we will never betray the trust of communities like New Edubiase,” he assured.
Completion of Abandoned Projects
Mr. Mahama expressed concern over the NPP’s abandonment of projects initiated under the NDC, including a sports stadium in New Edubiase.
He accused the government of wasting resources by starting a new stadium project without completing the original one.
“New Edubiase is a hub for football talent, which is why the late Prof. Mills decided to build a sports stadium here. Unfortunately, the NPP abandoned the project and started a new one they couldn’t even complete. This is a waste of the country’s resources,” he said.
He promised that an NDC government would prioritize the completion of all abandoned projects, including the New Edubiase stadium, to nurture young sports talents and boost development in the region.
Protecting the New Edubiase Parliamentary Seat
As one of the few parliamentary seats the NDC holds in the Ashanti Region, New Edubiase remains a stronghold for the party. Mr. Mahama pledged that the NDC would do everything possible to retain the seat, dismissing the NPP’s attempts to win it.
“The NPP has tried to take the New Edubiase seat, but they won’t succeed. The people know the NDC is the party that prioritizes development,” he declared confidently.
Infrastructure and Roads
Using the poor state of roads in the region as an example, Mr. Mahama highlighted the NPP’s failure to address basic infrastructure needs since he left office in 2016.
“Dust has taken over the roads, and accidents are happening frequently, yet the NPP has done nothing. When the NDC returns to power, we will fix these roads because we do not discriminate in sharing development, regardless of whether a region votes for us or not,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
Focus on Youth Empowerment
Mr. Mahama also emphasized that the NDC’s next government would focus on empowering the youth through job creation and skills training.
He promised to establish technical and vocational institutes in every district to equip young people with practical skills.
“The certificates from these vocational institutes will enable graduates to join security services or pursue other career opportunities. Empowering the youth is our priority,” he stated.
On Free SHS Policy
Addressing rumors that he plans to cancel the Free SHS policy if elected, Mr. Mahama dismissed the claims as false.
He reminded the audience that the NDC initiated the policy in 2015 and assured that an NDC government would not only maintain it but also improve its implementation.
“We started Free SHS in 2015, and under an NDC government, it will be enhanced to better serve the people,” he affirmed.
Winning Over Ashanti Chiefs and Citizens
Confident of victory in the upcoming elections, Mr. Mahama revealed that many chiefs and residents in the Ashanti Region are disillusioned with the NPP’s lack of action and are ready for change.
“The chiefs and people of Ashanti have seen through the NPP’s neglect and are determined to vote them out. This region deserves better, and the NDC will deliver,” he concluded.
Mr. Mahama’s message resonated with the large crowd, who cheered as he outlined his vision for a more inclusive, development-focused government under the NDC.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh (#RomeoWrites
) / Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 
