Speaker of Parliament's son declares for Botchwey

Mr Larry Adjetey, son of the Speaker of Parliament and former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, has declared his support for Dr Kwesi Botchwey, a flag bearer aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Larry Adjetey said the re-organisation and democratic culture evolving in the NDC were "positive signs of re-birth worthy for all patriots of the party to associate with".

There were some members who launched the NDC in 1992, who have to move to the background, he said.

He was speaking at the launching of the "Botchwey campaign for NDC Flag bearer," in Accra on Saturday.

Mr Adjetey said Dr Botchwey was a man with style, substance and vision to lead the NDC to electoral victory in 2004.

He described Dr Botchwey as "the longest serving Minister of Finance in Ghana and Africa for 13 years, who turned a collapsing economy in 1982, to one of hope and beacon of Africa's economic recovery," who deserve to lead the NDC and the nation out of the current economic mess.

The MP for Shai Osudoku, Mr Mike Gizo, who introduced the aspirant, said Dr Botchwey's main objective was for a "cohesive and unified new NDC party including other democratic forces, which are defining and giving content to the party's social democratic policy platform".

He urged delegates to the NDC December Congress, supporters and well-wishers to join the Botchwey campaign for the realisation of the party's "New Vision, New Direction" slogan.

Squadron Leader Clend Sowu (rtd) appealed to party activists, supporters and leading members to listen to all the aspirants since "your choice of leadership for NDC and Ghana should be based on informed decision on their visions, dreams and aspirations for the party and country".

He said, "this is the second launching I am attending and would probably attend more as there are indications that other leading members would declare their candidature very soon".

Squadron Leader Sowu urged leading members of the NDC to emulate Dr Botchwey's philosophy. Media personnel and some leading members of the party including MPs had to wait for over one and half hours for the commencement of the programme.

Dr Botchwey later apologised and explained the reasons for the delay.