Opt for sanity in administration of Ghana - Kufour

Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Jan. '99

Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), today urged Ghanaians to opt for sanity in the administration of the country by voting the party to power in the 2000 elections. "I am awakening the people of Ghana to the fact that we are being ruled by those who persistently violate the constitution, thus stifling the smooth development of the country." At a press conference by the NPP to launch its appeal for funds for the 2000 elections, he said the NPP is optimistic that Ghanaians are fed up with corruption, hardships and politics of deception and would announce this after the 2000 elections. Mr Samuel A. Odoi Sykes, Chairman of the NPP, renewed the party's call for state funding of political parties to make future elections more competitive and devoid of abuse of incumbency and victimisation. "We call upon the government and the donor countries interested in the success of our democratic enterprise to work out a programme of financial assistance to all political parties in the year 2000 elections." Mr Odoi Sykes called for the reformation of the Electoral Commission (EC) to make it more representative and responsive to the concerns of all parties and political groups. There is a strong public perception that the NPP cannot win an election in Ghana under the supervision of the present EC, he said. "The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has openly and unconstitutionally abused its incumbency in the last two elections under the very nose of the EC to the detriment of other parties in opposition." The party has opened current accounts with the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Social Security Bank (SSB), Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank (Stanchart) throughout the country where well-wishers could donate at their own convenience. "All sums paid into branches of the four banks all over the country shall be automatically transferred to the 'NPP-central Account, Accra '. Donors and contributors are advised to keep their pay-in-slips and they can use any identity they choose." Mr Odoi Sykes said donors or contributors who want the National Secretariat to keep record of their payment should send a triplicate copy of their pay-in-slips to the Treasurer, NPP headquarters. A special security-printed series of coupons which come in 1,000 cedis, 5,000 cedis, and 10,000 cedis denominations, was unveiled. Members and supporters who sell these coupons shall receive a 10 per cent commission. Mr Odoi Sykes said a conference of all founding fathers and patrons of the party will be convened at Greenhill, Legon, on February 20, 1999 to discuss further fund-raising activities of the party. Dr Kofi Apraku, NPP parliamentary spokesman on Finance, said Ghanaians should call for a census to aid the orderly planning of the national economy. The government is reluctant to give in to such request due to political reasons but cautioned that the nation stands to lose greatly if it does not know the number of people it is supposed to care for.