General News of Tuesday, 24 October 2000

Source: GNA

NPP to resuscitate abandoned industries

An opposition Member of Parliament has assured Ghanaians that if voted into power, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would improve the agriculture and education sectors and resuscitate abandoned factories and industries to create employment for the youth. Mr Osei Kwaku, NPP Member of Parliament for Asokwa-West said the NPP would also improve the economy by checking mismanagement and putting the nation's resources to judicious use.

Osei Kwaku was speaking at the inauguration of Kumasi-Bremang branch of Young Elephants Movement (YEM), a youth wing of NPP at a rally at the weekend.

He criticised the purchase of the 22.5 million dollars (150 billion cedis) presidential jet with the payment of 100 million cedis daily for five years as maintenance fee.

The MP described the purchase as a drain on the economy and said the amount could have been invested in viable ventures to improve the economy.

Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, MP for Old Tafo-Suame noted that the future of every nation depends on the youth and that it is worthwhile that the youth wing of NPP has come together to spearhead the crusade for positive change in the country.

He said the current external debt of the country is over seven billion dollars as compared to one billion dollars during the administration of the People's National Party, adding that the huge foreign loans are not being efficiently utilised to improve the lives of the people.

Mensah Bonsu said the NDC has run out of ideas in managing the economy and urged the youth to vote for the NPP to ensure effective leadership.

Alhaji Kwasi Yeboah, Ashanti Regional NPP organiser said the party has put in place an effective machinery to check rigging of votes, intimidation and other fraudulent practices that are likely to be employed by the NDC during the elections.

He reiterated the call to the youth to be vigilant and expose all those without genuine photo identification cards but may try to vote in the elections.

Alhaji Yeboah said the inefficiency of the NDC has led to the mass exodus of professionals such as doctors, nurses, teachers, lecturers and engineers from the country for greener pastures elsewhere.

The Chairman of Kumasi-Bremang YEM, Mr Thomas Osei Yaw said the movement is not aimed at fomenting troubles but to mobilise the youth for the socio-economic development of the country.