.... stop making promises they cannot fulfil

Akyem Oda, Sept. 15, GNA - Mr John Dramani Mahama, running mate of the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), says it is about time politicians stopped making promises they cannot fulfil.

He said the electorate were discerning enough and would not easily be swayed by "empty promises".

Mr Mahama was speaking at a delegates' congress of the Akyem Oda constituency of the NDC at Akyem Oda at the weekend where Mr Kojo Attah-krah, a businessman, was elected by popular acclamation as the parliamentary candidate for the constituency.

He said the promise by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the NPP, to raise one billion dollars for the Northern Development Fund and the same amount for private sector development when elected president was "over ambition."

Mr Mahama said if Nana Akufo-Addo was good at raising such amount why he could not to do same now to assist the government to pay the mounting debts of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Volta River Authority (VRA).

He said an NDC government would ensure that the present three Ghana cedis being paid on a child for the Capitation Grant is increased to a level that would ensure quality education for the Ghanaian child.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, National organizer of the NDC, said Mr Attah-Krah could represent the best interest of the constituency than any other candidate and urged the electorate to vote for him. He appealed to NDC supporters to mount an aggressive mobilization drive to win more floating voters as well as supporters of the NPP who are disappointed by the performance of their party into the fold of the NDC.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo alleged that NPP was amassing ill-gotten wealth that the party was using to bribe the electorate but said "where the will of God prevails, nothing can change it". He told NDC supporters not to be intimidated by anyone saying "We should take our destiny into our own hands" by being vigilant on polling day.

Mr Attah-Krah thanked the delegates and the party executive for electing him and called for hard work from all to enable them take the seat from the NPP.

He said he decided to contest the election due to the poor performance of the NPP Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo. Mr Attah-Krah said he would not promise the electorate the "moon" but assured that he would be a "home boy" MP who would be in contact with the people always to discuss the progress of the area.