NPP Presidential Aspirant commends media

Accra, Aug. 28, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo a presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday, described the Ghanaian media as a "great pillar" of the nation's democratic development.

"By your collective activities you have created one of the most vibrant media in all of Africa, if not the world. The contribution that the media has made to the emergence and consolidation of our democracy is invaluable," Nana Akufo-Addo, stated at a news conference in Accra to launch his bid to lead the Party for the 2008 Elections.

The over 2000 delegates who would be attending the Special National Delegates Congress of the NPP scheduled for December 22, this year would select a flag bearer from about 17 aspirants.

He declared: "I would like to use the occasion of the launch of my bid to salute the persons whose courage and sheer devotion to nation enabled them to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that tyranny placed in their way, so that our people could enjoy the free, democratic atmosphere that now prevails in our country".

Nana Akufo-Addo mentioned in particular the contributions of the late Mr John Kugblenu and Tommy Thompson, Bishop Charles Palmer Buckle, Mr Kwesi Pratt Junior, Mr Kweku Baako, Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, Mr Kofi Coomson and Mr Eben Quarcoo.

He described them as "stalwarts and heroes of our contemporary struggle for freedom" and said, "I am grateful to them for their continued solidarity and commitment to our common project of developing our nation in freedom".

"Ayekoo to all of you and to the new vigorous recruits that have joined you. And Ayekoo to the talented young journalists particularly Mr Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Ms Mathilda Asante, for wining awards at this year's Ghana Journalists Association Awards."

Nana Akufo-Addo also commended the people of Ghana, President John Agyekum Kufuor, the NPP and Parliament for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation in the last six and half years in two important office of state, as Attorney-General and Foreign Minister.

"In each, I have given of my best in the public interest. The experience has been great one which I hope will prove useful in the higher calling to which I aspire," he emphasised.

Focusing on the NPP Congress to select a flag bear, Nana Akufo-Addo said it was about the choice of a political leader to contest elections to become the next President of the Republic and such a person must have an impressive record of political leadership, both domestically and globally.

"In all humility, I can say that my entire career in politics has been about leadership. I have been in the frontline in the struggle against military dictatorship and the fight for democracy in Ghana and in the development and promotion of the Party.

"I have also been prominent in pushing the Ghanaian and African agenda on the world stage," he said.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the mission of the party was straightforward and simple, "we mean to create a future Ghana that will provide a model of progress for the rest of Africa and the world.

"To paraphrase the words of that legendary figure, our first President, Kwame Nkrumah, we see a future in which Ghanaians will show to the world that the African is capable of more than managing his own affairs."

He said Ghana's next developmental step required that "the nation share a vision that takes us well beyond our immediate identities, to recognize Ghana's significance as the star of Africa on the world economic, political and sporting stage."

This is why the policy of the NPP government has been to clear the ground for the purpose of inviting every Ghanaian to climb the ladder of competitive achievement, he stated.

"Without many players, markets fail to deliver quality at the best price. Without everybody on board, our democratic ship risks sinking under it own domestic weight," he concluded.