The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said the new Electoral Commissioner has an opportunity to give Ghana a fresh start by preparing a new voters’ register.

He indicated that the 56% of the 25 million Ghanaians registered as voters is an anomaly that has to be addressed with urgency.

He made this call over the weekend while addressing a large crowd of Ghanaians who live in areas like Manchester, Liverpool, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, and Birmingham and other parts of northern England.

Nana Addo thus called on Ghanaians everywhere to join in the crusade for a new voters’ register. Economy causing desperation

He bemoaned the harsh economic situation in the country that has left many young men and women desperate and in despair.

Nana Addo pledged that an NPP government under his leadership will create a conducive atmosphere for the growth of the private sector since the private sector holds the key to economic transformation.

Nana Addo observed that Ghana’s economy cannot continue to rely on the export of raw materials saying, “there is a need for a paradigm shift to a value added economy.”

He further promised that the country, under an NPP government will expand agriculture and restructure the financial sector to support economic growth.

Nana Addo recalled the progress the country made in 8 years of President Kufour’s government and said “this is what a country under good leadership can achieve” to a loud applause of approval from the crowd.

While condemning the scale of corruption in the country, the NPP flagbearer observed “there is an urgent need for competitive bidding for all government contracts to ensure value for money.”

Prior to meeting the members of the Ghanaian community from across the region, the NPP flagbearer met with the branch and chapter executives.

He thanked them for their hard work towards the growth of the party and assured them of his continued effort to ensure the party focuses on the task of ensuring the incompetent NDC government is removed from office in the 2016 election.

Nana Addo told the leaders “our responsibility towards the country is greater than our responsibility towards ourselves and that must be the driving force.” The leadership meeting was attended by branch executives from London and chapter executives from the Dundee, Hull, Leeds, Midlands, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Northampton, Reading, Swindon and the host Chapter, Manchester.

While welcoming members to the meeting, the Chairman of Manchester Chapter, Alex Appiah-Mensah thanked Nana Addo for taking time off his private visit to honour the branch party’s invitation and travelling all the way to Manchester.

In a brief remark, the NPP UK Chairman, Mr Michael Ansah, noted that what Ghana needs to fight the current spate of corruption in the country is a strong leader who is incorruptible and who will set an example for the nation to follow and that leader is the NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo.

Other speakers at the function included; Mr. Nii Adjiri Blankson, former Mayor of Accra, Hon Wiafe Peprah, MP for Abetifi, Dr. Samiu Nuamah, a former Financial Secretary of the NPP UK and Parliamentary candidate for Kwadaso, Ms Veronica Heming, former Women’s Organiser of the Branch and parliamentary candidate for Bole Bamboi and former Chairman of the Branch, Mr. Hayford Attah Kruffi.

Nana was accompanied by Captain (Rtd) Edmund Koda (Personal Aide) and Saratu Atta (Executive Secretary). Also present at the meeting were; Richard Dombo (1st Vice Chairman) David Owusu Yianoma (2nd Vice Chairman), Dr. John Kissi ( Secretary), Saeed Duah (Branch Organiser), Kweku Nkansah (Deputy Organiser) Kofi Korsah (Deputy Youth Organiser), Paulina Koranteng (Women Organiser), Nana Yaw Sarpong (Communication Director), Arafat Sulemana (Nasara Coordinator) and other senior members of the branch.