Govt indirectly filling the pockets of the people

... lazy people would not recognize and appreciate
Abuakwa (Ash), Sept. 8, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday appealed to supporters and sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to vote massively for the party in the December election.

He said God had blessed the NPP government and the people of Ghana and so members of the party should not allow anybody to deceive them to vote against NPP which would mean a waste of votes.

He was addressing a mammoth rally held at Tweneboa Kodua School Park at Abuakwa in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District to thank the people for their unflinching support for the party and appealed to them to continue supporting the party. The numerous supporters who were in their party's paraphernalia danced to the tune "Go, go Hi", by Philipa Barfi when the President in his white attire arrived at the rally in an open car.

President Kufuor assured the people that leaders of the party would continue to serve the people of Ghana with the fear of God, love for the nation and hard work to continue to build the nation.

He said nation building was a not a one day affair so Ghanaians should have patience for the government to continue with its good work.

President Kufuor expressed concern about people's complaints that there was no money in their pockets and said his government, through various economic policies and programmes, was indirectly filling the pockets of people which only "lazy people would not recognize and appreciate."

He told the people not to make any mistake to vote for anybody who lost in the party's primaries and has decided to go independent and that such people should wait for their turn in future.

The President told them to vote Mr. Benito Owusu Bio, the party's parliamentary candidate, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to continue with his eight years' administration.

Touching on the National Health Insurance Scheme and the free delivery policy for pregnant women, President Kufuor said people should not take advantage of that and increase their births but rather adopt good family planning methods and space their births to remain healthy and give good education to their children.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, said the welfare of the people was the prime concern of the government that was why it had put in place sound economic policies to create job opportunities for the youth to reduce poverty. Mr. Benjamin Asonaba-Dapaah, Member of the Council of State, advised the people not to lose sight of the fact that the

government was doing much for them and that there was the

need for them to vote the party to power again and through that

they would get their share of the national cake. Mr. Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the NPP, said

the party wanted people to work and invest. Mr. J.H. Mensah, Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, Minister of

Transportation, Mr. Kwaku Ballado Manu, Member of

Parliament for Ahafo Ano South and many other Ministers took

turns to address the rally on the achievements of the party,

asking them to vote for the party and avoid "skirt and blouse"

voting. While the rally was in progress, a mobile phone snatcher was

arrested and handed over to the police