Four hundred and fifty four women from some communities in the Northern Region have reportedly defected from the ruling National Democratic Congress to the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The women cited the vision and strong policies of NPP’s Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, as the reason behind their defection. They also blamed the harsh economic policies and the neglect of the Northern Region by the NDC government reasons why they have decided to join the NPP. Madam Ayishatu Fuseini, a former women’s organizer of the NDC in the Tamale North Constituency who led the defectors said, “this is not cosmetic defection, we mean it, it’s real, we want to join the team that can move Ghana forward and that team is NPP.” At the launch of a women’s wing of the NPP at the Arts Centre in Tamale, the 454 women, who were immediately integrated into the NPP women’s wing, pledged to uphold and defend the principles of the party, to ensure a landslide victory in the December Polls. Mrs. Rebecca AKufo-Addo, the wife of NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, expressed her appreciation to the women for believing and trusting in the NPP’s economic transformation Policy. “It’s only jokers who do not believe in the Free SHS policy. Nana AKufo-Addo will make sure he does it because it is achievable,” she said. She added, “the December elections is about our future and our children. It is a vote between those who believe nothing can be done and we who believe in Ghana. It must be a vote for those who believe that Free SHS is possible, Free health care for children under-18 is possible, free maternal care is possible, and also the transformation of Ghana” Mrs Akufo-Addo expressed worry at the current situation where thousands of young people are compelled by financial constraints to cut short their education at the junior high school level, a situation she said would retard any progressive move the country would initiate. Amidst cheers from the enthusiastic women, she explained that the free senior high school promised by her husband is not a mere promise to win election, as it is being propagated by the ruling NDC. On her part, the National women Organizer of the NPP, Otiko Afisah Djaba said, the women of Ghana, are the sunshine of all the little and big families, the heartbeat of the homes that wipes away the tears of young and old alike and puts smiles across our motherland. She said, it was sad that the NDC administration was taking Ghana back on what could have been a meaningful trek forward into greater prosperity and wealth for its people. “We should stop the current stunted and downward slide of Ghana’s development and bring the NPP back to power,” she said. The 454 women were immediately registered and given NPP membership cards.