Heart Surgeon diagnoses Ghana's Elections 2008

Accra, Sept. 06, GNA - Professor, Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng aspiring presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday declared that he was contesting to become President to stem the underdevelopment into which the country had been plunged.

"I am contesting against poverty, corruption, ineptitude, under development, mediocrity, diseases, incompetence, filth and under development. These are some of the enemies that the elections should focus on.

"I am not happy with Africa, we occupy 20 percent of the size of the earth, with 14 percent of the world's population, but as far as the world economic trade is concerned, our quota is a paltry one per cent. This is unacceptable and these are the reason why I want to be a President to offer solutions".

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Head of the Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu, an internationally renowned Heart Surgeon and lecturer in heart surgery was speaking to newsmen in Accra to explain his reasons for contesting the flag bearership slot of the party.

He was among the pioneer surgeons to carry out heart transplant at the Medical School in Hanover, Germany, in the 1980s. On returning to Ghana, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has been ascribed as the key figure in the establishment of the Cardio Centre at Korle Bu.

The Aspiring NPP Presidential Candidate said it was shameful, that Africa and Ghana had almost all the natural resources on the earth, yet majority of its citizens live in abject poverty.

"We are not able to utilise these natural resources to improve the lot of the people because we lack the capacity, machinery and visionary leadership to take pragmatic and bold initiatives to transform these abundant resources into finished goods and these are things that worries me." He said Ghana had the second richest gold mine in the world but have nothing to show for it "as we continue to depend heavily on foreign sources to feed our economy- about 80 percent of inputs in agriculture, education and health".

With a population of about 22 million and a work force of about 11 million, "our total export is just about bout 3.3 billion dollars a year but at the same time we import about 5.7 billion dollars worth of goods".

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said: "I have the blueprint for the social-economic development and expansion in the education, health, agriculture, housing infrastructure and the general improvement of the quality of life of Ghanaians.

"I don't believe in sub-Saharan standards.

" I believe Ghana has to move in accordance with international standards."

On his political background, Prof Frimpong-Boateng remarked; "I am not an outsider who does not belong to the mainstream of Danquah-Busia tradition.

"Strictly speaking, there are many serious minded, good people of this country who hide their political persuasions but are deeply concerned, involved, and sympathetic towards the Danquah-Busia tradition.

"Most of these are intellectuals, businessmen and women, the clergy, and others from many reputable institutions in this country, who due to professional ethics cannot disclose their political lineage openly.

"I have served this tradition since I was introduced to the Danquah/Busia tradition in 1958 by my grandfather Opayin Kwame Appiah at Gyankobaa in the Atwima District."

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said party delegates should not be looking at ones traditional background, but a candidate who would attract vote from even the opponents to increase the fortunes of the party for electoral victory.

"I believe that if given the nod, even former President Jerry John Rawlings would vote for Presidential Candidate, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng as against his own party Candidate. "I stand for unity, security of all Ghanaians and am against politics of insult, intimidation, antagonism, rancour, and divisive tribal politics." Prof. Frimpong-Boateng urged the delegates to vote for a candidate with a clean record and would not carry too much baggage into Elections 2008. "We need to focus on marketing our message and candidature and not to spend precious campaign time defending and repackaging baggage." 06