Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has stated that if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was to recapture power in 2004, it must win not less than 40 per cent of the votes in Ashanti.
The party, therefore, has to put in more efforts and resources to make significant in-roads into the region that has traditionally remained the stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Bagbin was speaking at a meeting with the regional executives and functionaries of the NDC in Kumasi on Monday.
He said Ashanti, with its huge voter, population should be of special interest to the NDC and that everything should be done to make the people in the region to "see that we have better policies".
The Minority Leader saw the electoral defeat of the party in the last general election as an act of God to give Ghanaians an opportunity to "see the alternative and compare".
He noted that, policies, now accepted and being implemented by the government would only bring about hardships to the people. "If at the end of their term, they are able to reduce Ghana's debt by one dollar, I will cast my vote for them."
Mr Bagbin claimed that within its relatively short period in office, the government has contracted loans totalling over 700 million dollars.
He, however, said that as a developing nation, there was nothing the country could do about taking loans.
The Minority Leader observed that the actions of the NPP did not seem to suggest that it was serious and sincere about promoting genuine peace and reconciliation.
He advised members of the NDC not to do anything to undermine the peace of the country, saying, "we are a peace loving people and should continue to do things that would bring peace".
Mr Bagbin denounced what he said was the orchestrated campaign of lies, misinformation and distortions peddled by sections of the mass media to cause public disaffection for the NDC.
Mr Nti Fordjour, NDC Ashanti Regional Vice-chairman, called on party members and supporters to remain united and firm and work relentlessly towards building the party into a strong political force in Ashanti.
