Most "educated illiterates" ruling -Wayo

THE LEADER of the United Renaissance Party (URP), Mr. Charles Kofi Wayo, has advocated a for mental revolution of Ghanaians to get rid of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2008 general elections and pave way for a visionary and radical leadership of the country.

He stated that until Ghanaians develop psychological orientation and revolutionarise their minds to have a radical change, the nation would continue to live in the quagmire of problems, including abject poverty and unemployment.

Speaking in an interview with this paper, the vociferous former NPP member, now aspiring to lead the nation on the ticket of the URP, said both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have exploited the masses to their advantage.

"We have the most "educated illiterates" ruling the country without practical knowledge, and unless we change our minds and have radical leaders, they would continue to rule and exploit us."

According to Mr. Kofi Wayo none of the two political parties have the practical abilities to deliver the nation from its economic doldrums, and the capacity to distance itself from international dependency.

"The URP is going to be the only party that would not depend on international donors. We have the brains to use the nation's natural resources," he said.

Mr. Kofi Wayo, a business tycoon, did not believe there was any use in the existence of many party structures across the nation.

"Both NPP and NDC claim to have offices in the country but they were not able to deliver. The lives of Ghanaians are still worse under them. There is no portable water, people cannot afford three square meals a day, and they cannot pay their medical bill and school fees. What is needed now, are practical ideas," he stressed.

Touching on the extravagant campaign of some NPP presidential aspirants, he said it proved that government officials robbed the nation to satisfy their interests.

"It shows that the black man cannot think. You don't have light and water, yet you can have money to be splashing like that. It tells you that these people are not concerned about the citizens."

Mr. Wayo, a former NPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East in the Greater Accra Region, told this paper that it was unbelievable that the NPP, which could not raise money in the 1992 and 1996 elections, could now raise money to engage in such extravagant campaigns.

The URP leader contended that the NPP had collapsed the nation, explaining that in order to revive it the nation needed a leader with robust and practical ideas like him.

According to him apart from the fact that the NPP had deceived the electorate into giving it power in 2000, it has extended its lies till now - 2004.

"How can you say that the economy is improving when you don't have light for almost a year, to process raw materials," he queried.