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Botchwey Invites Applications From Ladies

The former Finance Minister seeking the NDC Presidential candidature, Dr Kwesi Botchwey has invited applications from women of the party, who wish to be the next first lady, come 2005 to apply for marriage.

Dr Botchwey who has for sometime now been under attack from both his own party and the media over his unmarried status, on Monday November 11, jokingly said “applications are invited from those who are interested to marry me. He added that, the applications should be directly addressed to me for scrutiny”. Dr Botchwey was meeting with the Brong Ahafo executives and founding fathers of NDC, as part of his campaign tour to the region. He noted that there is no article in the Constitution of NDC of the country’s constitution that bars bachelors from becoming presidential candidates of presidents of this country.”

Defending his position in the party, Dr Botchwey repeated his assertion that he is a founding member of the party and has never abandoned it, as being circulated by some party members. He claimed that the colours of the NDC symbol were suggested by him and the founding father of the party, Jerry John Rawlings, after the late Kwadwo Maama Adam had suggested the symbol, umbrella, to the leadership of the party. Dr Botchwey expressed fears that the NDC would “collapse” if the party fails to win the 2004 elections.

He however assured the constituents that he would use his international connections to acquire funds to build the party into a winsome side and to rebuild the nation as well, if he is elected as presidential candidate and the president of the country eventually.

The former finance minister argued that ‘doing business now is not by traveling but just by picking a phone and talking to people who are well to do world wide the things would work for you, in what looked like a criticism of President Kufour’s supposed numerous travels’. When Dr. Botchwey arrived in Kumasi on Tuesday, he declared that an experienced economist and Minister of Finance he is the best qualified to lead the NDC party to the 2004 elections. He said “It makes somebody who can manage the economy to lead the NDC and the nation”.

Dr Botchwey said he opted to contest for the NDC Presidential slot because he wants to make the NDC democratic. “I bring fresh air and hope into the party”, he said. The former finance minister said the NDC lost the last elections as a result of mass defection of members which wrong he intends to correct by unifying all members of the party. The presidential hopeful admitted that Election 2004 is very crucial for the fact that the NDC would have to battle it out with a ruling party. He therefore urged all true members of the party to resist negativestories and mud slinging to move the party forward.