John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general election, has urged voters in the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region to reject any inducements from members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and cast their ballots in opposition to them on Tuesday.
The former President urged the voters to change their voting behavior this time around while he was in the area to offer condolences to the family of the late MP Philip Basoah, who was buried on Saturday, May 20.
“Kumawu constituency, shake yourself a bit in this by-election because they [NPP] have taken you for granted for too long. May the soul of Basoa rest in peace. I see his death as a sacrifice to Kumawu Constituency. If not for his passing, there is no way we will see this heavy earth-lifting machine on Kumawu town roads,” he stated.
The former President reminded the electorate during his campaign for the NDC’s parliamentary candidate, Kwasi Amankwaa, also known as Tom Cee, in Bodomase, close to Kumawu, that their support for the NPP in elections had not resulted in any significant progress.
“The road from here to Drobonso was constructed by the NDC. The road from here to Agogo was also done by the NDC. The water we drink here in Kumawu, it is the NDC that brought it here. When we were distributing hospital projects, we told ourselves that Kumawu people also deserve one, and we brought one here. Unfortunately, when we lost the 2016 election, the NPP government abandoned the project for over six years now. But because of the upcoming election, they are trying to do something there. If they complete it that’s good for you, but if they don’t complete the project, I want to assure you that the next NDC government will complete it for you,” he said to loud cheers from the crowd.
“I am here to introduce to you Tom Cee [Kwasi Amankwaa, NDC’s Parliamentary Candidate for Kumawu], as the man the NDC chose to represent us. I beg of you, change your voting pattern a little. You’ve always voted for the NPP, but every legacy project here and at Bodamase came to you through the NDC.”
The former president claimed that the NPP had induced voters in the area.
“The NPP is on a door-to-door campaign sharing a cup of ‘Tugyimie’ [Low-quality rice] to you in the constituency just to win your votes. So now, the NPP thinks the value of your vote value is a cup of Tugyimie [[Low-quality rice]? I am pleading with you that when they bring the Tugyimie [[Low-quality rice] please take it, cook and eat it. But on Tuesday, tell them that your voting power cannot be influenced by a cup of rice. The voting day is Tuesday. Please come out in your numbers and vote for Kwasi Amankwaa devoid of violence.”
“Kwasi Amankwa is number 2 on the ballot paper. I’m confident that something will happen in Kumawu on Tuesday. We have to change things and change the NPP,” he noted.
On the ballot, Ernest Yaw Anim of the NPP is listed first, Kwasi Amankwaa of the NDC is listed second, and two independent candidates with the same name, Kwaku Duah, are listed third and fourth.
