With their eyes firmly set on the 2020 general election, thousands of New Patriotic Party (NPP) faithful gathered at the Fantasy Dome at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre at La in Accra last Sunday for the party’s national delegates conference, trumpeting the government’s achievements.
The conference, which had President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia in attendance, was aimed at taking stock of the party’s performance in government since assuming power in January 2016 and mapping out strategies for another victory in the next general election.
The atmosphere aptly captured the theme for the conference: ”We have performed better: Four more to do more”, as speaker after speaker trumpeted the tremendous achievements chalked up by the Akufo-Addo administration so far.
For the ruling party, the evidence was clear that, in government, it had performed better than the party it defeated at the 2016 polls, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ecstatic moments
The enthusiastic party members, many of whom had travelled from across the length and breadth of the country, were clad in the party’s colours, including specially designed clothes, T-shirts, smocks and other fancy dresses, with hats and caps to match.
The multitude of party people created a cacophony of noise in the enclave.
They danced, sang and blew their vuvuzelas, while some carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Four more for Nana”, “Lower cost of duties at the ports” and “Free SHS has come to save parents”.
While the excitement went on on the precincts, the delegates, including national, regional and constituency party executives, ministers of state, Members of Parliament, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and other party stalwarts tackled conference matters in the dome.
Three masters of ceremony (MCs) — a Minister of State at the Office of the Senior Minister, Mrs Catherine Afeku; a Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Anthony Abayifa Karbo, and the Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mr Lord Commey — put up a lively performance.
Also in attendance were former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, the Chief of Staff during the Kufuor Presidency; Mr Boakye Agyarko, a former Minister of Energy; Mr Stanley Adjiri-Blankson, a member of the Council of State, and the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
More water
With the Fantasy Dome bursting at the seams, the coziness was naturally subdued by the heat.
The situation compelled the MCs to intermittently call on the ushers to supply more water and soft drinks to the delegates.
Food was also in abundance for all who were present at the conference.
Business booms
While the conference wore on, the car park of the Trade Fair Centre was choked with vehicles.
Some traders took advantage of the situation to make some sales of party paraphernalia, as well as food, water, mobile phone credit, among other items.
Tight security
Security concerns were properly addressed, with barricades set up a few metres to the main entrance of the dome, while security men, both plain-clothes and uniformed, were positioned at vantage points to ensure the smooth movement of people.
Health officials, members of the Ghana Red Cross Society, as well as ambulances, were at hand.
Media busy
The media had a busy day as they had a lot to chew on.
A stage mounted for the media was filled with camera people.
Prior to the conference, members of the NPP had joined the Muslim community for their Friday prayers and the Labone SDA Church on Saturday for a church service, while a grand church service was also held yesterday morning ahead of the conference.
SOURCE: graphic.com.gh