Gov't capable of dealing with troublemakers - A-G

Sekondi, July 26, GNA - Papa Owusu Ankomah, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has stated that the Government had the power to deal "decisively and ruthlessly" with those who planned to plunge the country into confusion.

He said as a democratic Government it was mindful that power had its own responsibilities and must be exercised rationally.

Papa Ankomah, who is the MP for Sekondi, said this after he had been endorsed as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Sekondi Constituency (Western Region) for the 2004 elections. He was the only candidate and was endorsed by acclamation at a delegates' conference in Sekondi.

Papa Ankomah said contrary to the notion that the Government was a "toothless bulldog," the NPP Leadership had imbued in its members patience and tolerance in the interest of peace, unity and development. "Even though members of the Party come from diverse backgrounds and, therefore, might have our individual weaknesses as well as our strength we continue to fulfil our objectives to rebuild the country under the inspiration of our Leader".

Papa Ankomah said the NPP was destined to give the country economic emancipation as the Convention People's Party gave it political emancipation.

He urged the electorate to give the NPP their mandate in the elections to enable it to continue with the task of rebuilding the country. Mr Peter Mac-Manu, Western Regional Chairman of NPP, said the Government did not believe in "an eye for an eye" politics, adding that, Party activists and officials had been trained to conduct decent electioneering campaign.

"By our training we would transform the psyche of political campaigning in our region", he said, and stated that the Party would not depend on State resources for its operations since it had been organising fund raising activities.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said the decision to embrace the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and other prudent economic measures including the mass cocoa spraying exercise had brought relief to the people.