I'll woo NRP back into the fold of NDC -Botchwey

Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, a presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress, has declared that if given the mandate to lead the party in the 2004 general elections, he would woo the National Reform Party and other deserters back into the fold of the party.

He said multi-party democracy was essentially about numbers and for that matter all those who, for various reasons left the party should be encouraged to return.

Dr. Botchwey was addressing a meeting with a cross-section of party supporters in Ashanti Region as part of his two-day campaign tour of the region.

He told them that the task ahead of the NDC in the next general elections was daunting and that it would need a strong leader, who has full grasp of the country's economic situation to wrest political power from the ruling New Patriotic Party.

"If we should lose the 2004 general elections the ramifications for our party could be disastrous."

Dr. Botchwey repeated that his decision to contest for the NDC's presidential slot was not motivated by a desire for personal aggrandisement but borne out of a genuine and sincere commitment towards helping to re-invigorate and position the party to recapture political power.

He appealed to the rank and file of the party to remain alert and not to allow themselves to be deceived or swayed by those bent on deliberate distortion of the NDC's history.

Dr. Botchwey assured them that his leadership would give special attention to the development and welfare of the party's youth and women.

Mr. Sam Garbah of Dr. Botchwey's campaign team, said nobody has a better claim to be the flagbearer of the "NDC and the umbrella" than Dr Botchwey. ''He was deeply involved in the formation of the party and the selection of its colours and logo.''