NPP Should Not Test Mere Names - Agyarko

A presidential aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Boakye Agyarko on Tuesday urged members of the party not to rely on just mere names but to look for some one who can articulate people's hope and aspirations by providing them with their needs.

His comment comes in the wake of mounting pressure from the elders of the ruling party that delegates must choose someone who is popular among the Ghanaian electorate so as to enable the party retain power in 2008 general elections.

Agyarko, who just returned from United States of America told made this comment to the press on Tuesday in Cape Coast after touring the Central Region, to solicit votes to lead the NPP.

He also contended that he will win the election because he had worked with the party's foot soldiers even when he was out of the country and that the party needed someone like him to continue the good work of President John Agyekum Kufuor.

In view of that Agyarko has appealed to NPP delegates not to rely on just names in the party, but look for an aspirant who is competent to lead the party in the 2008 elections.

The 51-year-old banker who hopes to lead the other 19 contestants during the party's delegates' congress said his contribution towards the party's success was enormous, explaining that he has always contributed to the socio economic discourse of the Ghanaian economy while sojourning in USA.

The tour was to enable him meet the party executives in the region and to inform them about his vision for the country when given the nod.

The former Vice President of the Bank of New York pointed out that the fact that he has tasted outside life did not mean that he was not conversant with issues happening in Ghana, adding that he always listened to radio and read newspapers on the internet and is therefore very much abreast with problems and solutions regarding the economy.

He said he was prepared to bring a new set of ideas into governance of the country.

Mr. Agyarko repeated that the NPP members know that he is not a stranger and maintained that one could only bring his or her expertise to bear if he or she has executive powers to do so and that is why he wants to become president of Ghana.