Supporters of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) from all over the country have besieged the Tamale Metropolis ahead of the official national launch of the party’s campaign.
The white, black, green, and red umbrella-emblazoned party emblem is visibly posted on vehicles, bikes, and every available space, while many other supporters have woven scarves in party paraphernalia. Others are flying the party flag on every available moving means of transport.
The leader of the party, former President John Dramani Mahama, his Vice, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, party chairman Asiedu Nketiah, other national executives, and party stalwarts are expected to address the launch.
It is expected that the launch will be used to explain the party’s controversial 24-hour economy policy, which has been widely criticized as a rather soft and unappealing policy campaign message.
In the last four elections, Tamale has seen the NDC dwindle in numbers per average election season mark, while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has shown appreciable improvement in numbers and in parliamentary seats.
The two main parties share nine parliamentary seats each from the 18 seats in the Northern region.
Hotels, guest houses, eateries, and other social venues are seeing an unusual volume of patrons. When the GNA visited some of the hotels, including Marian Hotel, Neem Avenue Hotel, and Modern City Hotel, among others, supporters were still checking into these hotels to confirm reservations.
Northern Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Sulemana Mohammed, who spoke to the GNA, said the party in the region, as host, had made adequate preparations to ensure that the launch was accident-free and successful.
He said some national executive members, including Professor Joshua Alabi, National Campaign Director of John Dramani Mahama, were already in Tamale ahead of the launch.
Mohammed indicated that the party, as part of preparations for the launch, had begun community-to-community educational campaigns to inform members and potential ones of the impending launch.
Other preparations, including media stands, podiums, security, publicity, and accommodation, were all being catered for. “As you can see, we are still preparing some placards for distribution while arrangements with the police for security have been made,” he added.
The Regional Communications Officer indicated that while some party sympathizers arrived a few days ago, others were still arriving.
“We shall go around town with these placards, and by 12, we will be at the grounds to start the main program,” Mohammed added.
Madam Faustina Serebuoh, a trader who had displayed her wares of party paraphernalia close to the NDC Regional Office, said the market was slow and expressed hope that it would pick up from Saturday, adding that most party supporters had already gotten some paraphernalia, probably given by the party.