Akwasi Agyeman's membership confirmed

THE WHISTLE for the commencement of the electioneering campaign for the 2004 elections has been blown with a massive rally of NPP at the Jackson Park last Sunday.

The rally, which depicted an "invasion" of the city by NPP followers from all parts of the country, was the climax of a three-day national delegates conference of the ruling NPP.

The main feature of the rally, which attracted a record crowd, the highest in recent times, was the introduction of Ministers of State and all those functionaries who make things happen in the Kufuor-led government.

One after the other the ministers were presented to the large crowd amid deafening cheers.

Each of them presented policies and indicated how far they had gone in respect of the government's positive change slogan in their respective sectors.

The response of the crowd had been "so far, so good."

Nana Akwasi Agyeman, a former kingpin of the NDC, who announced his preference for a Kufuor-led NPP government on the assumption office of his brother the President, was among those who attracted the loudest cheers when he took his turn to address the people.

Spotting NPP colours and holding the flag of NPP aloft, Nana Akwasi Agyeman reminded the crowd to let their number reflect at the polls to ensure a massive win for the NPP.

Nana Agyeman, who has offered to be the campaign manager of the President in the Ashanti Region, said President Kufuor was God-sent and the best thing that happened to the people of Ghana.

According to him, the NDC is no match for the NPP. The NDC cannot do a quarter of the things NPP has done so far in three and half years, he told an enthusiastic party followers.

The former KMA boss contended that the Kufuor-led government had performed creditably better than the NDC within the shortest time it had been in office.

He said he had literally tasted both 'wine and water' and recommends the NPP for Ghanaians because he knows what is good for the people of Ghana.

He called on the electorate to give President Kufuor a mandate for a second term as a guarantee for better living standards.

Addressing the supporters, His Excellency J.A. Kufuor stated that his government had brought meaning to democracy in Ghana.

According to him, a government devoid of intimidation, harassment, mistrust, marginalisation of people but with the welfare of Ghanaians at heart like NPP, has been able to bring back into the country those who went to political exile.

He said the only legacy of the NDC government was abject poverty and disgrace to the dignity of the Ghanaian.

President Kufuor indicated that it is ridiculous for the NDC under the leadership of Prof. Mills to seek the people's mandate.

The NPP flagbearer expressed surprise at the remarks by chiefs and people across the length and breadth of the country regarding the level of development and assured that he would ensure that Ghana becomes a united nation for more development towards the economic prosperity of the people.

The president also called for respect for the dignity of the Ghanaian.

The Senior Minister, Mr. J. H. Mensah, pointed to the reconstruction efforts of the NPP government to ensure development at all corners of the country.

He said the evidence of development under the NPP administration was for all to see and that the NDC only had to open its eyes to see real development.

Mensah said the NPP was battler ready for the elections against NDC's claim of being battle weary an indication of failure in the first place.

The Defense Minister, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor urged Ghanaians not to entertain fears because the security of the state is intact.

According to him, gone were the days of NDC regime where many people lived in fear for fear of being murdered or harassed in one way or the other and investors robbed of their wealth and properties.

Dr. Addo Kufuor also said that the NPP had been able to put the nation on a sound economic footing and that Ghanaians would see a better life from the party's rule in 2005.

On his part, the Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the capital City, Hon. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said a vote for Prof. Mills is a vote for Rawlings and this is the time for the Ghanaians to reject NDC.