Access to long-term risk capital would be made a key priority - Agyapong

Accra, Jan. 25, GNA - A Presidential aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwabena Agyapong has promised to make access to long-term risk capital by local entrepreneurs a key priority, if given the mandate to lead the country.

He said he would ensure that local businesses were supported with long-term funds to help to re-tool and graduate them from commerce to industry.

"I will pursue an aggressive policy of engaging the Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana Union of Traders and the Chamber of Commerce so that together we can make this happen", Mr Agyapong told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Thursday as he set off on the campaign trail to Ashanti; Brong-Ahafo and Western Region.

He said it should not be lost on anyone that no nation could develop on the basis of buying and selling goods from other countries. Mr Agyapong said he was of the firm conviction that getting the Ghanaian into productive work would provide the basis for wealth and job creation.

He said fortunately for the country, it has been blessed with arable land and favourable weather pattern and said all that was required, was to encourage people into agro-processing. "This is where we have a comparative advantage and we are going to do everything to make this sector become more vibrant. "We are not just going to build on our present Government's interventions and innovations but fast-track them to improve the standard of living of our rural farmers."

Asked about how realistic were his chances of getting the nod at the NPP's national delegates' conference to be held by the end of the year to lead the Party into Election 2008, he said, he was confident of winning the presidential slot of the Party.

Mr Agyapong said the enthusiastic response to his campaign message in the 147 constituencies, he had so far toured, made him confident of victory.