NPP victory in general elections was in national interest

Mr. Ernest Kwaku Debrah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister said last night that the success of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2000 general elections was not a victory for the party alone but the country as a whole.

He said for the first time in the country's political history, a democratically elected government was voted out of office and this had won the admiration of the international community as a step and growth of democracy in Ghana.

Mr Debrah was speaking at a musical show in Sunyani to mark the ninth anniversary of the Fourth Republic and one-year milestone of the NPP administration.

The Regional Minister said some of the achievements of the government within one year included reduction in inflation and interest rates of commercial banks, stabilisation of the cedi, maintenance of peace and security, stoppage of the serial killing of women and repeal of the criminal libel law.

He said these developments demonstrated the government's ability to fulfil its campaign promises and called for patience and support for it to move the country forward.

Mr Debrah appealed to the people in the region to unite for the development of the area, saying, "if we allow politics to divide us, our socio-economic development will be retarded."

Let us do away with unnecessary rivalry, petty squabbles, selfishness, undermining and backbiting in the interest of the region, he added.

The Regional Minister advised the leadership and members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region to think of how they could contribute to the development of the region, and not to spread lies and propaganda about the government.

Besides the musical show, there was a display of fire works by soldiers of the Third Battalion of Infantry in Sunyani, and which was watched by a large number of people including Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, Deputy Regional Minister, heads of the security services and departments, and NPP regional functionaries.