He expressed his determination to honour the promises made to the people of Ghana during the electioneering to bring about progress and prosperity for all, saying, “l will need your support to succeed.”

He explained that those pledges were not flimsy but well-calculated and thought-out policies put together by experienced persons in response to the needs of the people and also geared towards making the country a prosperous one.

Nana Akufo-Addo made the remarks when he paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi yesterday .

He was accompanied by the incoming Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as well as national and regional executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The courtesy call coincided with the observance of Awukudae, a traditional ceremony which is part of the Adae cycle.

The visit by Nana Akufo-Addo and his entourage to Manhyia attracted a large number of NPP supporters.

Dressed in NPP colours and other paraphernalia, the supporters turned the courtesy call into a carnival. They blew vuvuzelas, and played both NPP tunes and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign song: ‘Onaapo’.

Nana Akufo-Addo

Nana Akufo-Addo said as the leader of the NPP, he had visited Manhyia to inform Otumfuo Osei Tutu about his decision to campaign in the region when he was elected the flag bearer of the party.

He said he was overwhelmed by the prayer, pieces of advice and guidance provided by the Asantehene as to how he (Nana Akufo-Addo) should go about his campaign which, he said, played a key role in securing the mandate of the people at the polls on December 7, 2016.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the contest was over and that it was right and proper that he visited Manhyia to inform the Asantehene about the victory and seek his blessings for the tremendous work ahead.

“Exactly a week today, by the grace of God, the people of Ghana overwhelmingly voted for me and my party. This requires that I move to the palace to inform the Asantehene and also thank you for your advice, support and guidance,” he added.

The President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo (left), speaking at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. Those with him include Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice-President-elect, and other leading members of the NPP. Picture: EMMANUEL BAAH

Oyoko

Nana Akufo-Addo, who is a royal from Kyebi in the Eastern Region and also from the Oyoko Clan, described Otumfuo Osei Tutu as the first-born of all Ayokuo in Akan and that anytime he came to Manhyia, it meant he was visiting his own kith and kindred.

Support

The President-elect said what was ahead of his government was enormous and that he would need the blessings, prayers and support of the chiefs and the people of Ashanti and other regions of the country to succeed.

The Asantehene and other chiefs at the ceremony did not make any remarks because the courtesy call coincided with the observance of Awukudae.