He also said the president cannot defend his eight years record in government, citing his failure to empower northerners through the Savannah Acceleration Development Authority (SADA).
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Akufo-Addo said the president has no campaign message for the three northern regions hence he has resorted to "divisive" and "tribal" politics.
“With the signs clearly spelt on the wall that he (President Mahama) has lost the Presidency, he has begun using divisive language in his campaign. He is in the North telling the people that because he is from the North, the people should vote for him. This is sad,” he said while addressing thousands of residents at Akim Oda on Saturday, November 19, 2016, on the last day of his tour of the Eastern Region.
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Akufo-Addo's comments follow president Mahama's statement that “I pity Northerners who are calling for change”, adding the NPP hates the people from the North, stressing that “they will use you and dump you.”
Akufo-Addo added that it was “sad and shocking that our President will prefer not to use language that brings people together, but is rather using language that will divide us. I will not come before you and tell you to vote for me because I am from the Eastern Region or from Okyeman. I will never do that. The policies I have outlined over the course of my campaign should be the basis of your voting for me.”
“If this country is to progress, we need unity amongst us. We must understand that we are first and foremost Ghanaians, and should not allow people to set tribe against tribe, all in the name of politics and elections,” Akufo-Addo stress.
Akufo-Addo also questioned Mahama's commitment toward alleviating poverty in the north.
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You (President Mahama) say you are from the North, and are asking people to vote for you on that basis. However, it is under your tenure of office that the people of the North have been further impoverished. The levels of poverty in the North are truly unprecedented. Monies from SADA have been squandered, monies which were to be used to develop the North have vanished,” he said.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, “when asked to account for the SADA monies, we are told that it was used for the rearing of guinea fowls. And when asked where the guinea fowls are, we have been told that they have flown to Burkina Faso. Is this your track record as a President from the Northern Region? It is under your tenure of office that Northerners have been robbed.”
The NPP flagbearer added that if the people of the Northern Region were truly dear to the heart of President Mahama, he would have ensured that SADA’s resources were used for their true objectives and not as a conduit for corruption and the theft of public funds.
