Vote NPP out, CPP urges

Accra, June 21, GNA - Dr Edmund N. Delle, Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP) on Monday called on Ghanaians to still make history by changing a government through the ballot box the third time by voting out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government in Election 2004.
"I urge you to use the secret power of the ballot box to vote the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration out for failing the country," Dr Delle told Journalists when interacting with them in Accra. He said Ghanaians have lived in abject poverty and squalor for far too long and the time had now come to have a real change for accelerated development and growth by voting for the CPP to bring about the needed improvement in their lives.
Dr Delle said the CPP's call on the electorate to support its campaign "for real change for accelerated development and growth" emanated from the fact that Ghanaians had suffered so much deprivation from bad governance under the both the NPP and the former National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He urged the people not to allow any Party to deceive them by enticing them with money and other gifts to influence their voting. "Your vote is your power and you must exercise it according to your conscience."
The CPP Leader said it was regrettable that for about 12 years now; eight years under NDC and four years under NPP, Ghanaians had lived in poverty and were denied their fundamental right to good education and affordable health care.
He said Ghanaians deserved another change to accelerate growth and development of the nation.
Dr Delle gave the assurance that that "will be achieved under the administration of a CPP Government".
"The Presidency of Mr George Opesika Aggudey will promote peace and concretise national unity. Partisan politics will take a second seat," he told the Journalists.
The CPP Chairman called on political leaders to ensure the maintenance of peace before, during and after the elections by restraining their followers from using of provocative and abusive languages in their campaigns.
He said the CPP was ready to collaborate with all political parties to ensure that there was peace in the country, stressing, "violence would not help the nation and any party that show signs of violence should be ignored at the polls".
On the need for free, fair and transparent election, Dr Delle appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to maintain a high integrity by using its experience in electoral management to guide it.
"Election 2004 offers you the opportunity to uplift your image and integrity, show the world that Ghana has come of age in electoral administration and the conduct of a free, fair and transparent elections."
Dr Delle cautioned EC about the consequences of dispute during and after elections, saying "the foundation of most civil wars within the Sub-Region are linked to the outcome of elections." He said the EC hold the key to the future political direction of the nation.
The CPP Chairman also appealed to other political parties to be circumspect in their criticism of EC since unfounded allegations had the potential of tarnishing the credibility of the elections.