Vakpo Chief Endorses NPP's Free SHS

The Paramount Chief of the Vakpo Traditional Area, Togbe Gbogbolulu V, has endorsed the free senior high School vision of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), saying if his traditional area could sponsor some students currently in the senior high school, then the state was capable of undertaking a policy of free SHS education. He said his stance on education was non-negotiable and that he was prepared to lend the needed support to proactive policies that would enable the people of his area to better themselves through education. He, however, added that while it was his desire that the NPP would win to implement that policy, he would not countenance the situation where his people would vote for the party only to be deceived on assuming power. Togbe Gbogbolulu said this when the running mate to Nana Addo-Addo, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, called on him at his palace Wednesday. The visit by Dr Bawumia to the Volta Region was to apologise to the chiefs and people of Vakpo, Kpando, Nkonya and other areas where the flag bearer of the party could not visit during his recent campaign tour of the region even though the chiefs had been given prior notice of his coming and had prepared to receive him. This situation came about because of the collapse of the Achimota Melcom building, which forced the NPP flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, to suspend his campaign and rush to Accra to sympathise with the victims. Earlier, Dr Bawumia had addressed a mini-rally at Juapong, where he introduced the parliamentary candidate for the area, Mr Nicholas Ahiadorme. Dr Bawumia was accompanied by the Second National Vice-chairman of the party, Sheikh T.B. Damba; the Volta Regional Chairman, Mr Kenwuud Nuworsu, and other regional party officials. The various areas and palaces he went to received him well and accepted the apology rendered. Togbe Gbogbolulu stressed that in the past, it was nearly impossible to witness the spirited and public support shown by the youth and people of the area for the NPP, adding that the days of no support for the NPP in the area could become a thing of the past depending on how well the people of the area would be treated when the NPP won power. Their needs, he said, included potable water and access roads connecting the various communities in the traditional area. Dr Bawumia, in his address, said Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP were clear on the direction they needed to take the country and believed that an educated populace would associate with that vision; hence the need for the free senior high school policy. He expressed confidence that by the grace of God, Ghanaians would experience a dramatic change in the votes this year. He said his purpose of going into politics was to serve and to use his knowledge and experience to help implement the vision of economic transformation for the people of Ghana. The National Democratic Congress (NDC), he said, had resorted to the 'use and dump' approach of canvassing for the support of the people of the region. He asked the people to vote for the NPP presidential candidate and the parliamentary candidates.