Ankoma to establish endowment fund for NPP

Kumasi, Nov. 17, GNA - Papa Owusu Ankoma, one of the aspiring NPP presidential flagbearers says when given the nod, he would establish a multi-billion cedis endowment fund for the party in the first year of his presidency.

The fund will receive a further boost of two billion cedis during the second year of his administration.

Speaking at the launch of the northern sector campaign of his presidential bid in Kumasi on Thursday, Papa Owusu Ankoma, explained that the establishment of the fund would enable the party to stand on its feet financially to provide jobs and other financial assistance to its teeming members, especially the youth. He said it was his desire to transform the party and position it to offer employment and other economic opportunities for the people, especially the youth and prepare them adequately to take leadership positions in the party.

Papa Owusu Ankoma said the party was at the cross- roads and the suffering of its supporters would come to a halt only when it retained power in 2008 elections, adding that, there was the need for members and supporters to protect their votes and work hard to win other floating voters.

According to him, he represented a new vision for the country. "Ghanaians are looking for a leader who will show them a new direction and vision to move forward. They know that NPP is the best party that can fulfill the aspiration of the people and I represent the new transformational leader of the nation", he emphasised.

"The older generation has confidence in me while the younger generation, look to me as someone who can help solve their problems. I have the experience, competence and the best choice for the party in 2008 elections", he said.

He said he had prepared himself for the job, adding that, wherever he had served in government, he had done that with humility. Papa Owusu Ankoma called for unity among members of the party after the December 22, elections, adding that, he was prepared to sacrifice his personal interest for peace and unity in the party if that would bring peace and unity after the delegates' conference.

In a related development, Papa Owusu Ankoma on Friday inaugurated his campaign office at Ahodwo, a suburb of Kumasi. He appealed to the NPP delegates to elect a flagbearer who could attract votes from both the party's traditional and emerging strongholds as well as someone who could unify the party and the nation as a whole.