Impending election should not derail national development efforts

Akomadan (Ash), Jan 3, GNA-The government has been asked not to allow political expediency to hold back the country's economic development efforts, especially as the nation gears up for this year's general elections.

Mr Kwadwo Appiah-Kubi Junior, a parliamentary aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Offinso North constituency, said, "it is in the nation's interest if we avoid the situation where impending national elections are allowed to distract and slow down our development agenda".

He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Akomadan, the constituency headquarters at the weekend. Mr Appiah-Kubi Jnr, noted that the country's economy like that of many other countries in the African continent was fragile and for that matter, it must not be toyed with just because of the unbridled lust for political power.

"Let it not be lost on anyone that it is the structures laid by the government that invariably determine the height to which the people will rise".

The NDC parliamentary aspirant said the Ghanaian electorate could now no longer be taken for granted and that the outcome of the 2004 elections would be largely dependent on the extent to which those they mandated to represent them in the last general polls were able to satisfy their needs and aspirations.

"I believe it would not just be on the intensity of one's electioneering campaign," he said.

Mr Appiah-Kubi Jnr. also spoke of the need for a level political playing field for all contesting political parties and their candidates to help stave off unnecessary tension and make the election peaceful. He noted that the country's democracy has come of age and that the people should be allowed the freedom to chose those they want to represent them in government.