NPP contestants declare support for Kufuor

Accra (Greater Accra), 30 Nov. '98 -- All the five other contestants in the race for the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) presidential seat for the 2000 elections have vowed to put all misunderstandings behind them and work together for victory.

A press release from the NPP Secretariat over the weekend said the lead for the historic reconciliation was taken by the party's flagbearer, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, at a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Accra on Thursday, November 19.

It said Mr Kufuor vowed to ''open his doors to all the other contestants and party faithfuls to share ideas to win victory''.

He reminded them and members of the NEC that in a contest, there was a tendency to over-step certain bounds.

''But after the competition, we have to close ranks. I entreat you all to forgive and forget any mis-steps and statements made in the heat of the contest and work together because if we don't stand together, we will not make progress."

Mr Kufuor said he was also at the service of everybody, adding: ''I bear no one any grudge and l know that none of you bear me any. After all, we are all brothers. All the doubts and suspicions should be a thing of the past".

The NEC expressed its happiness about the show of unity by the aspirants and urged them to ensure that their supporters shared their conciliatory stance.

It also called on the NDC government to undertake the Keta Sea Defence wall project.

Present at the meeting were Mr J. H. Mensah, Minority Leader in parliament, Nana Akufo Addo, and Dr John Konadu Apraku, both members of parliament.

Mr John Kodua, Acting Ashanti regional chairman of the party, and Mr Malik Yakubu Alhassan were, however, not able to attend the meeting, the statement said.