According to him, the situation has compelled many, especially the young people, to travel elsewhere to seek for greener pastures.

“Our people seem to prefer xenophobic isolation in foreign lands. That’s why they’re willing to risk their lives crossing deserts and crossing seas in pursuit of greener pastures," he said.

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He said: “The reality is that our people are not happy...“it behooves on us as leaders to focus on wealth creation. We have to create wealth and the process brings our people out of poverty so they have their basic needs and they can be happy and we can have peace and stability.”

Addressing the chiefs, the NPP flagbearer said he is hopeful that his party’s electoral fortunes in the region will improve in the forthcoming elections.

He said: “my breath has been taken away by the exuberance and the enthusiasm of the crowd”, adding that if voted into power, the NPP will better the lives of the people in the area.