Koforidua, (E/R), Oct. 26, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said he would take Ghana to the next stage of economic prosperity due to the good foundation built by President J.A. Kufuor. He therefore cautioned Ghanaians not to be swayed by the propaganda of the opponents of the NPP but vote massively for the party in this year's general elections.

Nana Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he addressed thousands of party supporters at Koforidua Jackson's park on Friday as part of his Eastern Regional tour.

He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC), after 20 years of economic mismanagement had nothing to offer the country so Ghanaians should not vote for it again.

Nana Akufo-Addo said at the time NPP took over power, Ghana's reserves as at January 2001 was 231 million dollars, but in less than eight years, the country could now boast of 2.6 billion dollars. "This was due to good economic management by President Kufuor's administration in which all of us here are part". Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his promise of free secondary education and urged Ghanaians to vote for the party in order to implement it to the benefit of everybody.

He said it was unfortunate that the NDC was preparing the minds of Ghanaian's for a defeat hence their messages of false allegations against the NPP. Nana Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians not to allow themselves to be divided by any selfish politician and help NPP to move the country forward.

He called on the other parties to focus on issues during their campaign to move Ghana "to the next economic prosperity". Nana commended the people of the region for their support for the party since 2000 and urged them to continue to support it and retain it in power.

Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, Campaign Manager of Nana Akufo-Addo said voting for NDC was a vote for former President Rawlings and therefore cautioned Ghanaians not to make that mistake.

Other speakers included Mr Dan Botwe, former General Secretary of the party, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, former Press Secretary of the President, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyemang, former Minister for Works and Housing and Madam Grace Omaboe.