Aug 16, 2012 at 8:29pm

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has warned, Ghanaians will continue to suffer economic hardship if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is once again kept in opposition after the December general elections.

Ex-president Kufuor said the opposition NPP can boast of the best candidate in the person of Nana Akufo-Addo in the contest for the presidency because he has been tried and tested.

“I have no doubt the NPP flagbearer is the most rounded and experienced on the field and has tried and tested team of would-be ministers,” Kufuor said at the Second Danquah Institute's Liberty Lecture in Accra on Thursday.

“Most of them I worked with in government and I can vouch for them.”

Former President Kufuor said the NPP has the most formidable “programme for moving Ghana forward” since it was the first to ever introduce a National Health Insurance Scheme during his reign, and brought large investment in infrastructure to Ghana “without pumping a drop of oil.”

He urged Ghanaians to place the NPP side by side the NDC and they will realise that in terms of a party that values the wellbeing of the people, it is the Danquah-Busia tradition because they have always had candidates with “the capacity, vision, programme, competence to deliver.”

“This year’s election is a verdict of Ghanaians of the last four years. It’s about the future of all Ghanaians… Let the nation look at the record of NPP and other parties. Let the nation look at the many promises which are unfulfilled, especially in current times. Let’s look at the value of the cedi and please let’s vote wisely,” he said.

Mr. Kufuor said the records are there to prove that the NPP meant well for Ghanaians with the introduction of difficult, but important decisions such as the HIPC initiative that eventually transformed the economy in his era.

“We need transformational leadership that can deliver. Unity is a force for development, but can’t be achieved by force or propaganda. It was during our time that the private sector was given any hope for the golden age.

“The NPP stands ready to act and deliver freedom and prosperity for all Ghanaians. Nana is committed to building a committed society for every Ghanaian through industrialized economy. God willing come January 7, 2013 he will be next president of Ghana,” he added.


Click here to view the pictures from the 2nd Liberty Lectures


Watch excerpts of the address by President John Kufuor


By Kent Mensah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana