President Papa Owusu Ankomah?

Sekondi, March 30, GNA - Papa Owusu Ankomah, Member of Parliament for Sekondi and Minister for Education, Science and Sports on Thursday declared his intention to contest for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential slot.

Addressing a meeting of Polling Station Assistants and the Executive Committee of the Sekondi Constituency of the NPP at Sekondi he said, "I would file my papers when nomination opens."

Papa Owusu Ankomah said, " I want to serve the party, the nation and continue the good works of President John Agyekum Kufuor." He said President Kufuor had laid the foundation for the development of the country and whoever succeeded him must build on that foundation.

Papa Owusu Ankomah said the successor to President Kufuor must be able to unite the party and "I have the necessary attributes to do that."

He advised members and supporters of the Party to respect the leadership and follow laid-down rules and regulations to address grievances.

Papa Owusu Ankomah pointed out that members and supporters were free to express their views and point out the mistakes of leaders of the party but this must be done with respect.

He said discipline was important within the party because without discipline, the party would not be able to govern the country. Papa Owusu Ankomah said the party belonged to the members who had a role to play in building and maintaining integrity and unity within the party.

He said the NPP had made tremendous improvement in the socio-economic development of the country and its achievements were unprecedented in Ghana's history.

Papa Owusu Ankomah said the NPP Government had improved on infrastructure in schools and its achievements in sports was also unprecedented.

He announced that Government would soon embark on a three-year programme to provide classroom blocks for 1,500 schools in communities where children attended classes under trees.

Papa Owusu Ankomah called on the polling station assistants and executive committee members to assist to educate the public about Government policies and programmes including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He explained that the School Feeding Programme, the Capitation Grant and free ride on buses for school pupils and students were to assist parents to educate their children. "Parents should therefore, continue to play their role to supplement Government efforts," he added.