President Urges Delegates to Elect a Unifier

The President John Agyekum Kufuor, yesterday called on all delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to elect a candidate who would serve the interest of the party and the nation as a whole.

Speaking at a rally organized by the Party at the old Kasoa Market in the Central Region, where all the 17 presidential aspirants were presented to the public, the President stated that such a candidate should be a true leader who would have the inherent tendency to unify the people for development.

The President stated that there is a huge responsibility on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) aspirants to provide good governance for the people of Ghana in the 2008 general elections and noted that many of the successes of the country attained under his administration were not due to his personal efforts but the collective action of all Ghanaians.

President Kufuor pledged his support for the flagbearer to be elected after the December 22 Congress and promised to go round the country to market the candidate. He therefore called on party members to unite and work for victory during the 2008 general elections

 He noted that judging from the large crowd, he was convinced that the campaign for the 2008 general elections had begun at Kasoa in the Central Region.

In his remarks, the former Minister of Defence, Dr. Kwame Addo- Kufuor stated that the track record of the government under the leadership of President Kufuor was enough evidence to return the party to power.

He urged delegates to elect someone who could continue with the good work of the sound foundation already laid and cited the Bui Dam, the West African Gas Pipe line, the Millennium Challenge Account, among others, as examples of good practices.

Taking his turn, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nana Addo -Dankwa  Akufo -Addo, used the occasion to call for a minute silence for all departed souls of the Party. He said the December 22 Congress would be purely a family affair.

He urged the delegates to give him the mandate to lead the party to victory.

All other speakers who took turns to address supporters stepped up their campaign with a common message to support and rally round whoever emerges winner after the Congress and indicated that the supremacy of the party stood above individual interest and pledges.

The road to Kasoa, the venue for the rally and the entire rally grounds were decorated with giant billboards depicting the pictures of all the aspirants.

Among those present at the rally were Ministers of state, National, Regional and Constituency Executives of the party as well as thousands of party supporters and sympathizers drawn from 19 Constituencies across the region.