Monkey won't work for baboon to chop - President declares

President Mahama (left) addressing that charged crowd of supporters at Nyinahin

From Edmund Mingle, Nyinahin

President John Mahama says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will not be a monkey to work for any "baboon" opposition party to "chop."

According to him, the government had done a lot of work which had built the right foundation for national socio-economic growth, and it would not allow the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to destroy it.

Quoting the popular phrase, "Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop," President Mahama, who was addressing a mammoth rally at Nyinahin, capital of the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, on Monday, as part of his campaign tour of the region, said the NDC would not work for another party to enjoy the benefits.

"We have fixed the economy into becoming the best in Africa, by taking tough decisions, fixed the power crisis, and we have built the roads, schools, water systems, and improved the agriculture and other sectors.

"We have built a solid foundation, and we are the ones in the best position to build on the foundation.

"No one builds a foundation for someone else to build on," he said, adding that the NPP had no knowledge of what went "into the foundation and the building plan."

All the gains made, he claimed, would be destroyed by the NPP if Ghanaians made the mistake of voting that party into power.

"The NPP has no constructive development plan for Ghana. All they know best is to engage in cheap talk," he said, adding that the NPP's campaign of unrealistic promises was reflective of its inability to lead the country.

The President urged the people of the area, and the region in general, to do a sincere comparison of the performance of the eight years of the NPP and his four-year administration, saying the difference was clear.

"The NDC government has treated the Ashanti Region very well, although it is the stronghold of the NPP, all because we are not vindictive and we don't discriminate,” he said.

He advised the people to fully support the NDC to continue to lead the country, saying the NDC remained the most viable option for sustainable national progress.

From Nyinahin, President Mahama moved to Tepa, where he addressed a similar rally, after which he moved to Sabronum and Kunso where he separately addressed the chiefs and hundreds of residents of the towns who had waited into the night for his arrival.