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NPP PRESIDENTIAL RACE NOT A
BEAUTY CONTEST
Koforidua, Jan. 6, Ghanadot.com - The run for the office of
the flagbearership
of the New Patriotic Party (NPP is not a beauty
contest and some candidates seeking that office should put
their energies to the development of the party
than thinking of the Presidency,
Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Senior Minister has said.
Speaking at the ongoing Annual Delegates Conference here in
Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Mr Mensah said: "It
(Presidency) is about managing the destiny of an entire
people looking forward to a reduction of their difficult
situations in which they find themselves today."
The Senior Minister was ostensibly referring to the
unusually ever increasing high number of aspirants seeking
the flagbearership of the party
for the high office of the land.
The party has about 20
personalities currently seeking to lead it into the 2008
elections.
He said that the 1992 Constitution makes them eligible. But
does not say they must all put themselves up for office.
He also said it was neither a boxing match for some to be
calling for a candidate with strong muscles urging that it
was important for the delegates to ensure that the future of
the party was protected than who becomes President in 2008.
"I am not saying that we should or are complacent about the
fortunes of the NPP in the general elections.
We must not only look out for someone with a track
record and a solid representation in public office, but a
candidate who can win the confidence of the Ghanaian
electorate, especially the swing voters."
Mr Mensah urged the conference not to gamble on the matter
with everyone wanting to be
president.
He called for quality in the character of
the candidate to be chosen
as president saying that they should be capable of vouching
that the person can run the business of government with
distinction.
He urged the conference and Ghanaians to work at making the
middle income status a reality, indicating
that it was possible to achieve
this goal if there is a resolute will on the part of
all to contribute meaningfully.
He called on the private sector to
make their stand
noting that the party was looking up to them to
take a fearless stand on
the political strategies that operate to
benefit their business.
Mr Felix Owusu Adjapong, Majority Leader in Parliament said
the party would work at securing 140 seats in the 2008
elections,but cautioned that complacency of any sort could
cost the party dearly taking them to the period before 2001.
Representatives of the party called on the leadership of the
party to ensure that Ghanaians resident abroad are able to
vote in the forthcoming elections in 2008.
In a solidarity message to the Conference, the NPP
representatives in the diaspora notably Germany, UK and
Ireland and the USA said they had contributed immensely to
the fortunes of the party and must be given the right to
vote.
"In Germany our slogan has, since the passage of the
Representation of the People's Amendment Bill, been that, "ROPA
vote in 2008 or never," the representative from Germany
submitted.
The representatives also noted that they want their
contributions and representations should be increased from
the current figure of one to three in the USA and five in
the UK.
Ghanadot.com
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