ALAN KOJO Kyerematen, an aspiring flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has denied allegations that President Kufuor is supporting him. He was speaking to the press to round off his campaign tour of the Upper East Region.
Crowning himself as the front runner in the presidential race, Mr. Kyerematen said it was the quality of his campaign strategy that had put him ahead of other contenders and made him popular but not the support of President Kufuor.
He said President Kufuor had come out several times to deny that he was supporting him (Kyerematen) or any other aspirant, yet people were still going round, claiming that the President was supporting Alan.
Mr. Kyerematen described the assertion as a negative propaganda, saying; "If I would become president, it would depend on my own capacity and the grace of God."
He contended that people were jealous of the progress of his campaigning and that was why they continued to make such unfounded allegations against him and the President.
He said creating jobs for the people was his principal aim. This, he said, would be done through infrastructure development, industrialisation, Information Communication Technology and tourism, all tied together. He would also enhance the level of education, especially that of the physically challenged in the country.
He gave the assurance that when mandated to lead the party and subsequently the nation as president, he would champion the cause of development in the North through agriculture and industrialisation.
Mr. Kyerematen said the three northern regions were endowed with a lot of natural resources such as vast, fertile lands for agricultural activities and raw materials for the craft industry, which he could use to develop the three regions when chosen to be the next president.
He said he would desilt the dams and develop a comprehensive programme to boost dry season farming. These would include all the major crops and vegetables such as rice, sorghum, cowpea and tomatoes that were suitable for dry season farming.
He said his efforts in his tenure of office as Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiative and Private Sector Development Minister led to the refurbishing of the Northern Star Tomatoes Factory at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region. He noted that that was a clear manifestation of his plans and programmes to transform the three northern regions.
Mr. Kyerematen said at the moment, the factory had the capacity to produce 500 tonnes of tomatoes daily. This has employed a good number of the youth who would have gone to the South looking for jobs.
He said he would also revitalise the Zuarungu Meat Factory near Bolgatanga and promote the weaving and export of Bolga Basket.
