I'm not detracted by opinion polls - Owusu Agyepong

Tamale, Oct.11, GNA - Mr. Felix Owusu Agyepong, an aspiring presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that he was not detracted by what the opinion polls were saying nor was he competing with any of the other aspirants for the NPP presidential slot. He said to the best of his knowledge the opinion polls being carried out did not reflect the actual situation on the ground as several of the delegates who would be electing the flag bearer of the party had denied being interviewed by anyone.

Mr. Owusu Agyepong was addressing a news conference in Tamale on Wednesday after he had visited the Northern Region to show his vision for the country and to canvass for the votes of the delegates who would be electing the presidential candidate of the party on December 22. "This is not a populist election, it is one based on selected delegates. Let those doing their opinion polls continue and get the surprise of their lives", the presidential aspirant said. Mr. Owusu Agyepong who described the method of his campaign as customary, civil and digital, said "I am not competing with any of the aspirants but with principles".

He described himself as a true party man, a unifier and a marketable candidate, qualities that he said the party was looking for in its presidential candidate and therefore urged the delegates to vote for him to lead them.

After looking at the primary requirements for the election of its flag bearer the party also had to search for a candidate who had the qualities of attracting the floating voters and was capable of taking Ghana to the next level of development after President Kufuor. He said the Kufuor administration had done creditably well by stabilizing the macro-economic environment of the country and what was needed now was to put in measures to enhance the micro environment for every Ghanaian to feel the growth of the economy in his or her pocket. Mr. Owusu Agyepong called for an amendment to the public procurement act, which he said, put Ghanaian contractors at a disadvantage to foreigners in their bid for contracts. The presidential aspirant said there was the need to breed a new middle-income Ghanaian who was prepared to take risk and identify specific areas of development, which could have a direct impact on people's lives.

Answering questions posed by journalist on the possible split of the NPP because of the large number of its presidential aspirants Mr. Owusu Agyepong said previous experiences had made the party to put in place mechanisms to ensure that such a thing did not happen. He said none of the presidential aspirants would be allowed to treat the party as his private property and therefore break away when he does not get the nod to lead the party.