HIPC, greatest setback to nation's image -Lartey

Mr. Dan Lartey, Leader and Founder of the Great Consolidated Popular Party on Saturday stated that the government's joining of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiate is the greatest setback to the nation's image.

He said: "Ghana has enough domestic resource for capital mobilisation to support micro and macro industries of the country for economic recovery without looking outside for an ad hoc measure such as joining the straitjacket policy of "Supper Powers".'

"The HIPC Initiative is the greatest setback and the hardest ever blow dealt to the nation's economy and image by any government," Mr. Lartey stated at the Party's Greater Accra Regional Delegates Conference in Accra, attended by five delegates each from the 22 constituencies of the region.

The Conference objectives was to elect the party's regional executives, launch the African Youth League website and deliberate on and adopt strategies for election 2004.

Mr. Lartey said: "Domestication is the only path to chart to cancel the economic hardship in which we find ourselves and grant good governance and bring prosperity that has eluded us for a long time to our doors."

He said to achieve the ultimate, all Ghanaians must increase domestic production, raise local capital for development, while fashioning governance to ensure discipline, law, order and justice.

The concept of domestication is now the only means by which Ghana could achieve excellence in doing things for herself and in the supreme interest of the people.

Addressing the youthful and enthusiastic delegates and supporters, Mr. Lartey condemned the government's intention to ban private lotto operation, which generates capital outside the main banking system to support the economy.

The GCPP leader questioned the rational for banning domestic ventures in the interest of foreign lotto operations of Malaysian Lotto 6/40 jackpot and 5/39 fan game.

The jackpot and the fan game drain the Ghana's domestic capitalisation to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia without restrictions under the banner of attracting foreign investment, he said. Mr. Lartey said the party formed the African Youth League website to take care of the needs of the youth, which have been neglected for far too long.

He said the league would identify the natural and human resources of the country and plan strategies towards harnessing the resources to develop and improve the lives of the people.

The seven-member regional executives is headed by Pastor Henry Mentle, Chairman, Mr. Freddie Malm, secretary, Mr. Alfred Onibi Lartey organiser, Mr. Robert Ago Mensah, Education Secretary, Ms. Linda Brown, women organiser, Mr. Samuel Anoboah Treasurer and Mr. Jones Coleman, Co-ordinator.

The Greater Accra District Electoral Office of the Electoral Commission supervised the elections, which was by acclamation.