The Convention People's Party (CPP) has pledged to provide the policy framework and political will to move the nation to prosperity and build a self-reliant and vibrant society.
"We shall irrigate our lands, provide meaningful agricultural extension services, minimise post-harvest losses, set up agro- industries to process what we cannot eat now, extend credits to agricultural producers and move away from total dependence on rain-fed agriculture."
Dr. Abubakr Al-Hassan, National Chairman and Leader of the party, said this at the launch of the party's manifesto in Accra on Tuesday.
The 29-page booklet, signed by Dr. Al-Hassan and Professor George Hagan, party leader and presidential candidate respectively, has 21 chapters on the people, economy, agriculture, science and technology, minerals and natural resources, tourism, energy, labour and employment local government and rural development, health, education and housing.
It also addresses the environment, transport and communication, the media, youth, sports and culture, women, chieftaincy, civil and public service, the judiciary, defence and security, foreign relations, African unity and basic commitment.
While recognising the exceptional circumstances that led to the introduction of the Economic Recovery Programme, the CPP promised to work in active collaboration with other countries to explore alternative programmes that are directed towards the structural transformation of the entire national economy, which will have the capacity to meet the basic needs of the national population.
The party will also pursue a policy of energy conservation and enhance prospects for oil and gas through the use of the Tano Basin Gas reserves for power generation as well as consider the construction of the Bui Dam and other mini-hydro projects across the country.
The party promises to produce a comprehensive training and employment policy linked up with a national development strategy in all sectors of the economy with concentration on the development and acquisition of skills through the use of technology.
It further promises to institute, as a matter of urgency, a National Health Insurance Scheme to be managed by the state, reorganise technical and vocational education and give special attention to university education by shedding the ivory tower image and providing students with the necessary facilities that will enable them to become focal points of community and national development.
According to the manifesto, the CPP will review the laws of libel, sedition and defamation with a view to decriminalising media practice and journalism.
It will also promote all programmes designed to achieve continental unity, maintain and strengthen Ghana's membership of the OAU, ECOWAS, UN, and promote South/South co- operation.
The first five copies of the manifesto were auctioned for 6.5 million cedis.
Twenty-nine of the party's 192 parliamentary candidates were introduced at the launch.
