Kwabena Agyepong Woos Delegates

Signals picked up from the regions, districts and constituencies over the last few weeks indicate that former Presidential Press Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong is bowling over a lot of potential delegates and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Agyepong is set to begin a second round nationwide tour from the Volta Region where his Campaign Team say he has succeeded in making a deep impression which has translated into a lot of goodwill.

'Kwabena Agyepong`s message to party faithful in the Volta Region was well received hence his decision to start the second round nationwide tour from that region,`a key member of the Agyepong Campaign told GO on the eve of the start of the tour. Team Agyepong members told the Ghanaian Observer newspaper that Kwabena Agyepong will visit all the 22 constituencies of the Volta Region and meet with 10 prospective delegates and constituency executives. They charged that their man is the only NPP presidential aspirant who has personally visited all the 230 constituencies.

Checks across some of the constituencies have revealed that Agyepong`s campaign which only started in November last year is in the fast lane leaving some of the NPP`s aspirants gasping for breath and wondering how the former Presidential Press Secretary overtook them. Our scouts in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Western and Eastern regions report a groundswell of good will for the man whose close pals call him `Kalahari` from his Mfanstipim and KNUST days.

From the Western Region, our scouts say Kwabena Agyepong`s message that politics is generational and cyclical has inspired many a youth to look within themselves for strength. `He has been telling people that it is the belief in youth that made Prime Minister Busia appoint then youthful personalities like Dr. Safo Adu, Dr. Jones Ofori-Atta and President J.A. Kufuor among others to frontline ministerial positions which placed them in good stead to take over from where he left off,` our scouts said.In an interview with this paper, Agyapong himself said his message to the electorate is unique and all embracing, hence the overly positive feedback from the constituencies.

He said `I feel energised and encouraged by the enthusiastic response the party rank and file have given my message of a new generation leadership anchored on a platform of dedicated selfless and forward looking corps of party supporters.` On policy, Agyepong said `I believe it is time for us to have self confidence, self belief and a determined resolve to put Ghana back into productive work. It is my belief that it is only through hard work and innovation that we can improve the standard of living of our people.`

He said `while congratulating the Government for a number of measures taken to ensure the growth of our economy, especially the private sector, I believe the time is ripe for us to fast track some of these initiatives in favour of our indigenous entrepreneurs, drastically reduce red tape which has made it difficult for our business people to access capital to re-tool and recapitalise our industrial base. In my view, no country or society has developed on buying, selling and commerce alone. It is imperative that we reorient and assist our business community and graduate them from commerce into manufacturing and production.`

Reacting to comments that he is too young to put in a bid for the presidency, Kwabena Agyepong who turned 45 on March 6, the day Ghana turned 50 said `on the issue of age, I want to debunk it completely. There are many countries where young and visionary persons have emerged as leaders and led their people to take giant strides to development.` Agyepong said `our own political history is replete with such examples. Dr. Nkrumah at independence was 47 at which time the opposition leader, Dr. K.A. Busia was 43. President Limann was President at 45 whilst Rawlings did it at 43.`

He said on the international scene, the likes of Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy and Vladimir Putin have contributed to the transformation of their nations `and I am poised to follow in the footsteps of these leaders and our own.`