Cape Coast airport promise was made on the spur of the moment – NPP’s Obiri Boahen

The Deputy General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has said that his party’s promise to construct an airport in the Central Region was taken on the spur of the moment.

It follows widespread concerns over Vice President and running mate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s announcement that his party will construct an airport in the Central Region when given the nod to govern the country again.

“President Akufo-Addo spoke in the spur of the moment. It was on the spur of the moment. President Akufo-Addo spoke around 5:30 PM. Then in the evening, we had a meeting with Dr. Bawumia over the manifesto on Friday night. When we were having the meeting, on the spur of the moment, he said Cape Coast deserves an airport,” Obiri Boahen said in an interview on Accra-based Starr FM.

President Akufo-Addo last Friday during an interview on a Cape Coast-based radio station said the government cannot construct an airport simply because residents have requested for such. He added that the decision to construct such an edifice ought to follow laid down process including feasibility studies.

However, in less than 24-hours, Dr M Bawumia promised that if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wins the 2020 general elections, residents of Cape Coast, can be assured of having their own airport and harbour.

The party’s critics are raising questions as to what had changed after President Akufo-Addo’s position.

But Deputy General Secretary of the NPP said there is nothing wrong in the positions of both party leaders.

“Where lies the contradiction? There’s nothing wrong. Tell them (NDC) to launch their manifesto,” Obiri Boahen said in the interview, monitored by theghanareport.com.

Mr. Obiri Boahen in defence of his party said critics of the campaign promise must focus their attention on other issues of national interest.

According to him, the NPP will fulfil the promise to the people of Cape Coast. He said his party would construct airports in every regional capital in future.

“The people of Cape Coast deserve an airport, don’t they? Every regional capital will have an airport, whether now or in the foreseeable future. Damango will have theirs. Are there not people in that area?”

NPP in competition with poverty, not NDC

The vociferous Deputy General Secretary of the NPP also took a swipe at the NDC over their decision to launch its manifesto on Monday, August 31, 2020.

“Who cares? They can decide to launch it tonight. Nobody cares. How many level-headed Ghanaians will pay attention to them? NPP launched theirs (manifesto) on Saturday. They have the right to do theirs. NPP is not in competition with NDC. Our competitor is poverty,” he said in the interview.