I Can Beat Mills – Apraku

DR. KOFI Konadu Apraku, a contender in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race has stated that he can beat Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) if given the nod to engage him in political battle in 2008.

He said he had the capability and qualities needed to win political power for the NPP in the upcoming general elections, stressing, “Prof. Mills will be no match for me”.

Dr. Apraku indicated that the impending elections would be crucial for the NPP and that the party needed a person of his calibre to enable it retain political power.

He therefore entreated delegates to the party's congress to elect him flagbearer to ensure political victory for the party.

Dr. Apraku, who disclosed these in an exclusive interview with DAILY GUIDE in Kumasi, said the NPP's chances of winning the 2008 elections were brighter than ever.

“We can only lose the 2008 general elections if we make a mistake and fail to present a winnable candidate who is the choice of the rank and file of the party,” he warned.

According to him, the NDC does not have any meaningful campaign message to lure the electorates, reiterating that the NPP could only lose the elections if it failed to maintain peace in the party.

Dr. Apraku admonished the party's delegates to shun acts that could cause rancor in the party before, during and after the congress.

He called for a free and fair congress to maintain the peaceful atmosphere in the party, stating, “The flagbearer of the party should be picked in a transparent and uncontroversial manner”.

The Offinso North MP as well advocated for the election of a true party person who really understands the traditions of the party and the concerns of the foot soldiers.

Considering the good works of President Kufuor's administration, the Akomadan-born MP said, the party's chances of retaining political power was high and that the party's chances in the elections could be brighter if a competent person was elected to lead it.

Dr. Apraku said the country needed a person who could be bold enough to fight moral decadence, notably corruption, which had engulfed the country.

The former Minister for Regional Integration and NEPAD indicated that the country needed a unifier who could unite people from the various political parties to save Ghana from political polarization.

According to him, the next president of the country should be someone respected by the citizenry, irrespective of his financial or educational background, adding, the person should also be abreast of the global political and economic trends.

Dr. Apraku stated that he possessed all the aforementioned attributes, stressing he was the right person to lead the country at this point in time.

He urged delegates of the party not to lose sight of these facts and vote massively for him during the congress to lead the party and ultimately Ghana to a brighter future.

“For the sake of the love for the party and Ghana, I am pleading with the delegates to elect a God-fearing, humble and approachable leader like me to succeed President Kufuor,” he appealed.

From Fred J.A. Ibrahim Jnr., Kumasi