Clad in their red, white, green and black party colours, the thousands of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) danced and exchange pleasantries at the Sunyani Coronation Park for the much-awaited manifesto launch.

The venue was strategically selected to help the party win more votes in the swing region, according to the National Chairman of the NDC, Kofi Portuphy.

Arrival of dignitaries

Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur and his wife, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur arrive  at the venue at 1:36 p.m. The massive crowd cheer and wave at him as he waves back.

The General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia arrives at 1:40 p.m amidst a lot of shouts, cheers of 'General Mosquito', 'The General Himself' from the party faithful.

Mr Nketia is in a red, black, white and green smock, his arguably preferred way of dressing for functions like this.

 

Alban Bagbin mounts stage

Majority Leader Alban Sumani Bagbin mounts the stage and says the NDC's better policies have resulted in a change in the life-expectancy rate of Ghanaians from 58 in 2008 to 65 in 2012.

-He predicts a 57% victory for President John Mahama in the upcoming elections and a win for the NDC parliamentary candidates.  

At the left-hand side of the speakers is a young woman signing all that is being said to the benefit of the deaf.

At exactly 2:00 p.m, President John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Mrs Lordina Mahama arrive at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

Former Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah chants 'Mahama...Mahama...Mahama, Oseeeeyiee!"  in his usual style as the President makes his way to his seat.

The President in all his grandeur and with a pleasant smile takes his seat close to Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe- Amissah Arthur and his wife.

President Mahama is seen in a white long sleeve over an ash trouser while his wife wore a white shirt over skirt with the NDC colours.

 

Fifi Kwetey takes over

Member of Parliament for Ketu South Constituency, Fifi Kwetey mounts the stage after the President takes his seat. He touts the Mahama-led government's unprecedented achievements in the last four years.

He outlines progress made by the government in Health, Transport, Education,  and other sectors, and says the NDC are 'doers' and the opposition New Patriotic Party are talkers." He urges all supporters to go out in their numbers and vote massively to keep the President in power. 

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Haruna Iddrisu takes over from Fifi Kwettey. He throws a challenge to the Opposition Leader, Nana Akufo Addo to tell Ghanaians how he intends to fund the numerous projects he is promising Ghanaians.

-He also touts government's efforts to curb corruption.

 

Dr Omane Boama gets on stage

First Lady, Lordina Mahama is being hailed by the MC, she dances to Atom's 'Ye Wo Krom for a while and Communications Minister Edward Omane Boamah is invited to the stage.

-Mahama will construct polyclinics in Brong Ahafo and hospitals in other regions

-He touts the President's achievements and says

-The future is important than the past that is why the President is saying he needs your votes to build 35 polyclinics across the country.

-A regional Hospital will be constructed in the Eastern Region

-Government will employ over 12,000 nurses from 2017

-Education is equally important to the President  that is why he has introduced a new formula called "200-60-10"

-The formula means 30% of the 200 community day schools will be converted to technical and vocational institute and 

-10 out of them will be converted to Centres of Excellence for Sports across the country when completed

-He sings "Mungodey Allah" a song in Hausa to wit "Thank You, Allah, You have given us what we want."

 

Asiedu Nketia takes over

NDC General Secretary is invited to the stage. He walks majestically up the platform to speak. 

-Says Sunyani was selected for the launch because as the name of the town suggests they are going to slaughter the elephant, which is the symbol of the opposition New Patriotic Party.

-He goes on to enlighten party faithful about the social democrat ideology of the party

-Says manifesto is birthed out of the party's constitution and ideologies

-Mahama's campaign team is stronger than ever

-The party will organise a press conference to give journalists an opportunity to ask questions and to also amass more ideas from the general public on the manifesto.

-Says it will also be a chance for all who claim the NDC has stolen their manifestoes to come for them.

 

Kofi Portuphy mounts podium

The Chairman of the party, Kofi Portuphy takes over from Mr Asiedu Nketia

-Urges party supporters not to be complacent but go out and vote on election day 

-He thanks party faithful for maintaining unity in the party and urges them to keep it.

-States that Ghanaians will not hand over the country to a divided NPP and its leader Nana Akufo-Addo

Although his voice is not so fruity, he sings a victory song before leaving the platform.

 

Veep gets on stage

Running mate for President John Mahama, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur mounts the stage after he was introduced by the Master of Ceremony, Elvis Afriyie Ankra.

-He commends the manifesto committee for a good job

-NDC is a party of progressive change not like their "opponents whose change is destructive"

-He says loans contracted by the Mahama government have been put to good use

-In what sounded like a reply to his counterpart in the NPP, the Vice President narrated an incident to explain why an amount of money used to buy an amount in the year 2000, will not be enough to purchase the same item today.

-He ends his speech on this note

 

President Mahama mounts the stage

Shatta Wale's 'Mahama Paper' is heard in the background. Almost all the leaders of the party are seen dancing to it. The first gentleman and lady of the country are seen enjoying the music with each swaying movement of their feet.  Dr Edward Omane Boama is seen dancing to it with an old lady at the park. The party supporters danced to it as well.

Soon after this, President Mahama is introduced by Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and he moves towards the platform with Shatta Wale's 'Chop Kiss.'

-He introduces a new party chant which involves whistling

-He acknowledges all gathered at the grounds and goes on to urge a minute silence for the late President John Evans Attah Mills

-Touts what he calls improved life expectancy rate, which according to him is second to Cape Verde in Africa

-He says NHIS is growing from strength to strength and hails his administration's efforts in improvement in health, education, sectors

-We are on course to bringing inflation down to single digit, he says

-Averagely this economy has grown in a higher quantum in the past eight yeas than it did under the NPP's eight years

-Our government has been transparent with the people of Ghana

-Unlike previous governments, we have exposed corruption and this has contributed to Ghana's improved performance in the Transparency Index

-He urges the people of Sunyani whom he called in-laws (as his wife's home region is B/A) to work together with the NDC

-The manifesto is written on thematic areas

-LEAP will be expanded

-Talk about improving the health, education, Agric and other sectors if given the mandate on December 7

-He says the NDC manifesto is the best plan to lead Ghana Forward

-The exercise will lead to the conclusion that the NDC is the most prepared to lead Ghana

-He commends the manifesto committee by Lee Ocran and says NDC is the most united party

-He expresses appreciation to his Running Mate, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur

-Expresses appreciation to his wife Lordina Mahama who he says has been his number one supporter, companion, friend and love for the past 24-years.

-Playing a political card with his marriage to a daughter from the region, the President thanked the people of the region for his beautiful wife and promised to take care of her for rest of his life.

-Wishes party faithful a safe journey back to their homes 

-The rains today shows that God's hand is on the NDC

-On this note. President John Mahama declared the 2016 'Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana' Manifesto of the NDC duly launched.

The party executives hold up their NDC-branded umbrellas behind the President as they all dance to the NDC anthem by Jewel Ackah.

The President walks hand in hand with his wife off the stage with Shatta Wale's 'Chop Kiss.'