Kyerematen kick-starts campaign

Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Mr Alan Kyerematen, aspiring flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Monday launched his campaign for the flag bearership slot of the party for Elections 2008. Hundreds of placard-bearing supporters on foot and in vehicles joined Mr Kyerematen in a carnival through some principal streets of Accra, amidst signing and dancing and shouting of his virtues.

An elated Mr Kyerematen declared later at a rally: "Vote for Alan Cash to create jobs and put money in people's pocket; I have the experience, capabilities and capacity to create wealth in the country." He outlined four priority areas of a Kyerematen-led government as Focus on Industrialisation; Infrastructural Development; Information Communication and Technology Advancement and Promotion of Tourism. Mr. Kyerematen, who is a former Minister of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiative (PSI), tasked delegates to the New Patriotic Party's National Delegates' Congress on December 22 to select a candidate based on 10 cardinal principles.

These include: a candidate who is not only marketable within the NPP, but one with a nationwide marketability and appeal; a person with strong capacity to build upon the solid foundations laid by President John Agyekum Kufuor in the areas of health, education, road development and public transportation.

Other considerations include: personality with a new face to project the new image of the party for Elections 2008; Continuity in Change for Castle 2009;

and an aspirant with international experience and exposure, stressing that the President of Ghana did not just operate in Ghana but everywhere.

"Elections 2008 is a Champion of Champions game, which requires international players."

Mr. Kyerematen said an NPP Presidential candidate should also have a local experience and track record of accomplishment, "one who can demonstrate commitment and dedication towards the cause of the Danquah-Busia tradition".

He said the party also needed a flag bearer with the capacity to unify the party, especially after congress.

Mr Kyerematen explained that the party would be fighting Elections 2008 with a deficiency as third term consecutive bid for political power, which in any country the world over, was not easy. "We therefore need a new face marketable to break the third term debacle of ruling parties...NPP would win the next elections to set a political record in the country."

He tasked the delegates to monitor the campaign messages of other aspirants saying, "their messages would demonstrate the type of leadership qualities they possess".

Mr Kyerematen therefore urged the delegates to vote for him as he possessed all the qualities to lead the party to another electoral victory to ensure that NPP handed over power to NPP, come January 7, 2009.