NDC Promotes Stowaway In T’di

National Communications Director of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Yaw Nkansah, has told residents of New Takoradi that the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration would create an enabling environment for stowaway in the area when they vote for the party on December 7.

New Takoradi, which has recorded a high number of cases involving stowaways, is a fishing community in the Takoradi Constituency of the Western Region.

Mr Nkansah disclosed this while addressing NDC supporters during the campaign launch of the party's parliamentary candidate for Takoradi, Alfred Ekow Gyan, who doubles as the Deputy Western Regional minister.

He alleged that during the previous Kufour administration, a huge wall was constructed at the Takoradi Harbour which made it difficult for the youth in New Takoradi to stow away.

He pointed out that as part of efforts to expand the harbour, the current government had demolished the wall.

He told the people that the demolition of the wall would enable the people to see more ships coming into the harbour and make it easy for the youth to take part in stowaway.

“What happened was that when a certain party came to power, they built a wall around the port, making it impossible for the youth to stow away as they were always busted by the port security personnel.”

“But President Mahama has broken down that wall and expanded the port which will allow big ships to come so we can stowaway,” he asserted.

“How many of the New Takoradi boys were able to stowaway during the NPP era? They were always arrested and prosecuted.

“There are many of our brothers whose parents were unable to travel oversees but with the presence of the harbours, they themselves have been able to travel overseas.”

He stated that “so we should not allow a government that came in to prevent stowaway to come back to power again, otherwise you will not get jobs to do.”

Kwame Nkrumah & Stowaway
Mr Nkansah, who confirmed the story to Takoradi-based Skyy Power Fm, said that there was nothing wrong with stowaway and that it was through stowaway that Dr Kwame Nkrumah gained independence for Ghana.

He asserted that a lot of the young guys in the coastal town of New Takoradi would not be able to take care of their families or acquire wealth without stowaway.

“Stowaway is a lesser evil and it will help the people improve their living standards. Now because the Takoradi Port is being expanded, more cocoa and other products are being sent there to give the carriers jobs to do,” he asserted.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi