NDC can’t be serious – NPP Chairman

New Patriotic Party National Chairman Peter Mac Manu has rubbished as dream, claims by the National Democratic Congress that it planned to recapture at least 30 seats it lost in 2004 to the NPP.

In a recent interview with the Daily dispatch, NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia stated that, the party was making serious efforts to take back the over thirty seats the party lost in 2004.

However NPP chair; Peter Mac Manu in an interview with The Independent said, his party was actually strong on the grounds and that there was no way the NPP would surrender the seats it annexed from the NDC in the 2004 elections. He then vowed that the NPP would ultimately go on to win the general elections.

He told the Independent newspaper that the party had put in place mechanisms that were motivating foot soldiers of the party to work extremely hard for total victory next year, and pointed out that the polling station chairmen in the various constituencies have been psyched up for the battle ahead.

"The polling station chairmen are being motivated and encouraged to ensure that the party wins the 2008 election to enable our party continue its good works," the NPP chair pointed out.

He observed that, claims by NDC to win back the 30 seats will not be possible since" the good works of the government will be looked upon by the electorates to retain them in power".

Firing salvoes at the largest opposition party, Mac Manu noted that, the NDC is full of loudmouths, who talk too much, but pointed out that talking alone cannot win them the 30 seats.

He even went further to indicate that recent bye-elections that NPP won indicate that the party was serious on the ground, because of its enviable track record.

“Our track record is unbeatable and based on that the ordinary Ghanaian will vote us back to power to continue our good track record”, he emphasised.

He noted that, NDC officials are entitled to their political rights to express their views on issues of interest but wondered whether they would make any meaningful impact when given the mantle again to lead the country, since they were not able to run the country when they were in power for nineteen years.

Mr. Mac Manu added, the NDC is not a party to be scared of since they only know how to bark but can't bite. The NPP will retain power come 2008, he affirmed confidently.

Commenting on whether the NPP will encourage a debate among its various presidential aspirants, Mr. Mac Manu said everybody is entitled to his opinion, and that the party will consider such a suggestion when it is brought before the national executive.

Former Finance Minister and aspiring presidential candidate, Yaw Osafo Maafo, has suggested that there should be a debate among the various aspirants to bring out the best candidate for the party.

He said anybody desirous of leading Ghana must be ready to commit to such a debate.

According to Osafo Maafo, such a debate should focus on major national issues and a candidate's proposed solutions to some of the challenges facing the country.

He noted that, the debate will offer the NPP delegates and Ghanaians at large an opportunity to hear and determine who among the aspirants deserves the mandate to rule Ghana.

The debate issue seems to have gone well with many of the aspirants endorsing the idea. Speaking to The Independent, one of the aspirants, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, wholeheartedly endorsed the idea saying, "I'm not afraid of a debate, and I am ever ready to participate any time."

Other aspirants who are reported to have endorsed the idea include Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey and US-based medical doctor, Arthur Kennedy.

Source: The Independent