President Kufuor rallies support for Akufo-Addo-Bawumia ticket

Sekondi, Aug. 16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday rallied members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to firmly support the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Presidential ticket and work their hearts out to secure resounding victory in the coming December polls.

"We are lucky to have a winning team comprising a flag-bearer, whose political maturity and sagacity is complemented by the financial and economic expertise of the running mate."

He was addressing the party's 16th National Delegates Congress at the Sekondi College, the highlights of which included the adoption of the NPP's Election Manifesto and the working out of an effective Campaign strategy to win the elections.

NPP's Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo-Danquah Akufo-Addo, picked Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, a Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BOG), as running mate in consultation with the National Executive Council last Thursday.

President Kufuor noted that being an outstanding economist and banker with both local and international experience, Dr Bawumia was an invaluable asset and "brings to the ticket a wide network of professional colleagues, associates and friends to support the cause of the NPP and deliver as Vice President."

Ghana, he declared, was "on the crest of a very auspicious wave" and stated that their flag-bearer, who has had a successful stint as Foreign Minister was certain to "ride the crest to take the country far."

"He is the man of destiny, the man needed at this moment to move Ghana forward."

President Kufuor gave high marks to the Government for stabilizing and consolidating the tottering economy it inherited, relaying a deteriorating infrastructure and fixing the educational system that was out of step with globalization.

The next Government, under Nana Akufo-Addo was going to accelerate the growth of the economy, modernize the infrastructure and carry the education system forward.

President Kufuor used the platform to dismiss suggestions that the nation's two major political parties should not compare their records in government, wondering how the electorate could make informed choice in the December elections without this.

The NPP, he said, would tell its story and continue to recount how they halted galloping inflation and brought interest rates tumbling down.

"We shall remind the world that the Cedi, which is now at par with the dollar, was in free-fall when we assumed office in 2001." President Kufuor, whose address catalogued the achievements made by the Government during the past seven years, announced that they were in the process of establishing an integrated aluminium industry around Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), bringing to reality, a dream since the first Republic.

The Government bought the Company back two years ago at 20 million dollars but it is now attracting international partnership offer of over 250 million dollars.

He said there was abundant evidence that the economy was on the move, citing the flocking in of both local and foreign investors into all sectors of the economy, be it banking, mining, Information Communication Technology (ICT), agriculture, manufacturing, construction and commerce.

"This is the condition of our economy today without even counting the substantial find of natural gas and crude oil. Is this the record to be hidden?"

President Kufuor also touched on accusations by the party's opponents that it was elitist and said the records showed that it was pro-people family, mentioning the National Youth Employment Programme, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), free maternal care for pregnant women, Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme, School Bussing Programme, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) and Metro Mass Transport System.

All these, he said were hallmarks of the NPP's commitment to and identification with all the people of Ghana.

He said it was on account of the people-centred policies and record of good governance that the nation was attracting much international attention. That was what made Ghana qualify for the US Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) of 547 million dollars and Chinese Government credit for construction of the Bui Dam.

Other Governments including those of the United Kingdom, Japan, India, France, Denmark and many more were supporting "our Government for the exemplary leadership we are serving Ghana with." President Kufuor said Ghanaians were now wide awake and would not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by negative propaganda.

"Our party is fully set for the December elections", he said, adding that, the destiny of the nation was in the hands of the NPP and it could not afford to fail the people, who had forged a winning partnership with it since the Government was privileged to lead the country.