Tribal sentiments won't help Ghana - Akufo-Addo

Tarkwa (W/R), Dec. 25 GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, has appealed to radio stations not to use their mediums to promote tribalism in national politics.

He said fanning ethnic tensions was dangerous, which could have disastrous consequences.

Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking on "Space FM", a local radio station at Tarkwa, as part of his Western Regional tour to thank the people for peaceful election during the first round on December 7, 2008 as well as plead with them to do the same on December 28, 2008 during the Presidential Election Runoff.

He said Ghana was made up of different ethnic groups and, therefore, it was unhealthy to preach tribal politics or promote voting on tribal lines. "This will create division among the people which is not good," he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo said genocide, misery, destructions and displacement were the results of heightened tribal differences and Ghana did not deserve that.

For Ghana to move forward in unity; there was the need for people to ensure a good sense of decorum in their language, which would give the electorate a good picture to assess the performances of those seeking political offices.

Nana Akufo-Addo said his promised free secondary school education policy would never be a political gimmick if he won the election. He further said Ghana's economy had expanded by moving from four billion dollars to 16 billion dollars and, therefore, 10 per cent of the amount would be used to finance the free secondary education policy without an increase in taxes.

Nana Akufo-Addo said by 2020 the country's illiteracy rate would be reduced and noted that the foundation had been laid for industrial development to take place adding that an illiterate population could not be used for rapid development.

He said the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), has been upgraded to a full-fledged learning centre in addition to other polytechnics to train people to acquire the necessary skills. Nana Akufo-Addo said the current 100,000 total number of people employed under the National Youth Employment Programme would be increased to about 500,000. This he said could happen with the inclusion of areas like sanitation.

He also promised to set up a one-billion-dollar fund to encourage youth businesses.

Nana Akufo-Addo said he would regularise Galamsey and promote a cordial relationship between large-scale mining companies and the small-scale mining operators.

On the National Health Insurance Scheme, he said children below 18 would be registered on their own to get direct access to health care. Nana Akufo-Addo said NPP would build more health infrastructure to ensure universal coverage. 25 Dec. 08