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21.10.2008 CPP

Sakara: CPP poised for power

21.10.2008 LISTEN
By The Statesman

The running mate of the Convention People's Party, Abu Sakara Foster has indicated that people in the three Northern Regions are itching for a change that would bring the CPP to the hems of affairs.

Briefing the media on his tour of the three Northern Regions to introduce himself as the running mate of Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum and also campaign for the CPP, Dr Sakara said the people received his entourage and party"s message with open arms.

According to him, "The people affirmed their support for our message of peace, job creation and free compulsory continuous education.' He observed that the people were happy with the paradigm shift being promised by the CPP.

Dr Sakara indicated that the target groups of his campaign team were chiefs, opinion leaders as well as religious leaders.

He told the media that the major concerns raised by the people during the CPP tour were on the need to elect District Chief Executives, and also ensuring that Members of Parliament are not appointed Ministers thereby preventing any conflict of interest in their duties.

He said the people were dissatisfied with the situation where sitting MP's do not visit their constituencies until elections because they have other duties as Ministers. 

He pointed out that these issues have been rearing its ugly head since the era of both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party but nothing has been done about them.

He noted that the CPP has always held the view that DCEs should be elected, while Ministers are not appointed from parliament to ensure an effective and efficient separation of powers.

He explained that it is a fundamental issue that people choose or elect their own leaders to govern them.

According to him, DCEs when elected would make sure that they work effectively with the sitting government, no matter the political difference, for the development of their people to gain the people's trust and also ensure their re-election.

Dr Sakara said a CPP government would make changes in the country's trade policy to give farmers leverage on the market.

He stressed that it is clear that most of the areas in the three Northern Regions abound in a lot of investment opportunities, which have been neglected by successive governments.

Although he described the initiation of the Northern Development Fund by the NPP administration as commendable, Dr Sakara insisted that it is still in the formulation stage and therefore promises made on it are premature.

He said the opinion leaders are very receptive to the CPP message of bridging the economic gap between the rural areas and the urban areas.

According to him, 'the opportunity for the CPP in the December election is great because the party stands to gain a lot from the wind of change blowing at the swing areas and also the so called world banks.'

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