CPP presidential aspirant sets out priority areas

Aburi (E/R), Dec. 12, GNA - Mr Bright Akwetey, presidential

aspirant of the Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday stated

that fighting the increasing crime wave, "the state of insecurity"

and corruption would be a priority of his government. "A successful control over crime; insecurity and corruption are

cardinal for the attraction of investors and the development of a

nation," Mr Akwetey said and urged CPP delegates to the

December 15 special national delegates' congress to elect him to

ensure safe state. Mr Akwetey, who was speaking with potential delegates at

separate meetings at Aburi and Akropong in the Eastern region,

said the ruling New Patriotic Party had failed to protect the

citizenry. He said most Ghanaians were living under perpetual fear from

armed robbers, mobile phone snatchers and targeted killers;

"corruption is on the ascendancy in spite of President John

Agyekum Kufuor's avowed stand to fight it." Mr Akwetey said Ghana had now been rated among drug

peddling nations, a situation he added, could dent the country's

reputation. "We need to change all these negative tags through the

selection of a visionary and courageous person to lead the CPP and

capture political power in Elections 2008. He held that increasing assassination of individuals and the

proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in West

Africa, linked to the highly disparaging nature of modern warfare,

particularly its impact on lives and property, raises much concern. "These killings had raised much concern and created a state of

fear and insecurity," he said, adding that the proliferation of SALW

had created a sense of insecurity among individuals and was

threatening the stability of the country ahead of Elections 2008. He urged the delegates to vote for him to ensure a safe and

sound society. Mr Akwetey said recent spate of assassination of influential

personalities and death threats on some political heavyweights in

society and media practitioners were a reflection of the country

having its own share of the impact of SALW. He called for immediate action to control the looming danger

before Ghana becomes a fertile haven for former combatants to ply

their trade. He told the delegates that there were signs that the CPP would

be the third force in next year's election, adding that the name CPP

would not only remind Ghanaians of the great deeds of the

Nkrumah-led CPP, but would also lay bare the deficiencies of the

ruling NPP and the other parties. Mr Akwetey, however admitted that developments in the CPP

since 1992 had not been quite smooth, leading to the Nkrumaists

fragmentation. He therefore called on all Nkrumaists who left the party to join

other political groupings to "come home" and join the

re-mobilisation process for victory in next year's general elections.