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President John Dramani Mahama says his Accounting to the People tour is not a re-election campaign strategy.  "I'm not on a campaign trail," he said and added that when the time comes "I will be in full political battle gear."
 

Accusation 

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) claims the President, who is the flagbearer of the ruling NDC is abusing incumbency by hiding under his Accounting to the People tour to campaign.

"We should be able to distinguish purely party activities from government activities, however thin the line is," the NPP's 2016 campaign manager, Mr Peter Mac Manu, is reported to have told Accra-based Joy FM.

Interaction

But, speaking during a courtesy call on the chiefs of Hohoe on Tuesday as part of his Accounting to the People tour of the Volta region, the President said his nationwide tour was meant to interact with Ghanaians and show what his government had done to lift up the standard of living of the people.

Confident 

President Mahama was however confident that with the work done, Ghanaians would give him another term.

He said apart from Prof J.E.A. Mills who unfortunately died in office, the two other past Presidents, John Agyekum Kufuor and Jerry John Rawlings, won their re-election bids.

The President said he was in his first four-year term, one year of which was wasted by the presidential election litigation. And having done his best, it stands to reason, and indeed he was certain that Ghanaians would give him another term.

Achievement

Speaking about the records of his government, the President said they were evident all over the country.

"The track record of this government is an enviable one," he said.

Volta region 

Turning to the Volta region, the President said a lot had been done in infrastructure development citing the road sector as a typical example.

He appealed to the chiefs and people to exercise patience if they had not seen one project or the other in their community because development is a process and not an event.

He gave the assurance that 10km of Hohoe town roads would be asphalted.

President Mahama said the government is looking at a programme to revive cocoa farming in the Volta region.

He therefore encouraged the chiefs in the area to make land available to the youth for cocoa farming as the government, through the Ghana Cocoa Board, would supply them with free inputs.

He expressed delight about the relative peace existing between Alavanyo and Nkonya after their bitter conflict.

Confidence 

Welcoming the President on behalf of the chiefs of the area, the Paramount Chief of the Akpafu Traditional Area, Nana Afrifa Akuamoah, commended the President and the government for the work done in the road sector of the region.

"It's an indication that you are really a listening President," he said.

On the national front, the Paramount Chief said, "under your leadership, Ghana has seen unprecedented development."

He, however, said a lot more must be done to bring the needed relief to the people of the region saying, "Volta region is yet to receive its fair share of the national cake."

"Our prayer is that the good Lord continue to give you long life and the strength to continue with your good work," he said.

Nana Afrifa said with the Alavanyo and Nkonya conflict resolved, the grounds were prepared for development.