High number of presidential aspirants is healthy sign for democracy

Cape Coast, Aug 14, GNA - The Central Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwamena Duncan, has observed that the number of people who have so far declared their intention to contest the Party's primary, was a "healthy sign" for its internal democracy, as well as the nation's democratic process.

So far, about 13 members of the NPP, comprising ministers of state, Members of Parliament and some prominent members have declared their intention to contest the Party's primary.

They include heart surgeon Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, Defence minister Kwame Addo-Kufuor, as well as former ministers Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo and Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (rtd).

Mr Duncan, who made the observation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Cape Coast at the weekend, said the situation, did not only reveal a "growing confidence among the populace that democracy had come to stay, but also indicated that members of the Party are now confronted with a number of choices, with regard to the eminent position."

He called on the NPP to vigorously scrutinize the aspirants to enable them to determine which of them can lead the Party to retain power in 2008.

Mr Duncan, however, held that what is important now is for the rank and file of the party's membership to unite and to help enhance the people's satisfaction with the government's administration of the country.

According to him, this is imperative, because although the credentials of the aspirants will largely be considered during the party's primary, it is the government's performance that would be the deciding factor during the general election.

"We should concentrate more on our work as a government in order that the work for the party would be easier when we go to the electorate to renew our mandate" he reiterated.

Mr Duncan advised executive members of the NPP to desist from openly declaring support for any of the aspirants, and said they ought to see themselves as "heads of family" and who are supposed to foster unity.

He pointed out that this would make it easier for all members to work with the candidate who would be chosen as the party's standard-bearer.

He also called on the aspirants to refrain from utterances and acts that would tarnish each other's image, when they go out to campaign in their desire to lead the party. 14 Aug. 06