Accordingly, he has charged the security agencies to deal decisively with anyone, regardless of political affiliation, who engages in any act that tends to undermine law and order in every part of the country.

“It will not be under my watch that people will take the law into their own hands, neither will it be under my watch that the laws of our land will not be enforced. That will never happen; the law will work without fear or favour,” President Akufo-Addo stressed.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Saturday, the President said he was committed to ensuring that the rule of law worked without fear or favour and without regard to any partisan, ethnic or religious consideration.

Nana Akufo-Addo was in Kumasi as part of a three-day visit to the Ashanti Region.

The central business district of Kumasi came to a virtual standstill as a result of the President’s visit, as it was thronged by lots of people in New Patriotic Party (NPP) colours, singing and dancing to both NPP and NDC songs, especially ‘Onaapo’.

A gridlock was created, to the extent that some commuters were forced to get down and walk to Adum and Kejetia, and the police had a hectic time controlling vehicular traffic and the mammoth crowd that followed the President’s convoy.

Recent developments in Ashanti Region

President Akufo-Addo’s caution comes in the wake of the attack on the Ashanti Regional Security Co-ordinator, Mr George Agyei, by members of the Delta Force, a vigilante group within the NPP.

Mr Agyei’s appointment as the Regional Security Co-ordinator generated negative reactions from some members of the party in the region, culminating in the physical attack on him.

The President, in assuring the Asantehene and the people of the Ashanti Region, said, “I know this matter is a source of great worry to you, Otumfuo. Let not your heart be troubled. The incident has occurred and I assure you that measures have been put in place to forestall the recurrence of this issue in Asanteman and, for that matter, any part of the country.”

Appreciation

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that his visit to the Ashanti Region was to thank the Asantehene and Asanteman for the massive show of confidence reposed in him and the NPP in the 2016 elections.

“The vote I got in Ashanti was unprecedented. I, therefore, came to show appreciation and to tell Asanteman of the policy initiatives we are putting in place to ensure that we bring relief to the people of this country and thereby return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity,” he added.

“Among others, I told the people that when we won, we would bring free SHS. The free SHS policy is on its way coming,” he said, to loud applause.

Otumfuo

For his part, Otumfuo Osei Tutu reminded President Akufo-Addo that the people of Ghana voted overwhelmingly for him in expectation of progress in their living conditions and the development of the country.

He told the President that the people would hold him, not his appointees, accountable at the end of his tenure.

He, therefore, urged the President to be careful of the people around him, as some of them would only seek to malign their colleagues for favour or appointment.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu explained that in some instances, some appointees of the President would deliberately decide not to paint the real picture of the situation on the ground to the President, a move that would not afford the President the opportunity to have a clear view and understanding of the situation in the country for him to address it.

Other engagements

The President later held meetings with the leadership of transport unions in the region, visited the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Kumasi Central Market and interacted with the media.