DR MAHAMA BEGINGS TOUR OF VOLTA REGION (Page 14)

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho

The presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC) party, Dr Edward Mahama, has said that he will run “a lean and thrifty” government when elected into power in the December election.
He explained that it was only a small number of ministers and deputies that could save cost, prevent waste as well as minimise corruption in the country, and added that he would appoint a maximum of 40 ministers and deputies to the run the affairs of the state.
Dr Mahama said this when he addressed regional executive members and some journalists at the start of a tour of the northern sector of the Volta Region in Ho on Tuesday.
He said corruption was eating Ghana up and challenged the ministers of state who had resigned the post to contest the presidential candidate position of their parties to show proof of the legitimate source of their money.
According to him, the size of a government did not reflect its efficiency and added that it was a waste of resources for a nation of 22 million people to have 88 ministers and deputies with special assistants.
He said the tour of the region, which would take him to seven districts, would focus on making the electorate more informed on certain issues, and eradicate any false notions they had on governance.
“We want to give Ghanaians the ‘can do’ spirit which the Black Stars have demonstrated,” he said, adding that “if Ghanaians believe that they can get themselves out of disease, poverty and hunger, they can do it”.
Dr Mahama said his campaign message for the political season would emphasise the need for real change and hope and said the PNC would give real hope and not an imaginary one to the people.
He questioned the necessity of asking a bidder for 105 signatures before he could win a contract in the country, and said that eroded the profit margin of contractors because of the alleged kickbacks they offered to every signatory.
On the prospects of merging with the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the PNC leader said a merger was possible if only the CPP accepted that the new group would carry the PNC symbol, adding that the deal with CPP was not over yet since the deal began on April 15, 2005 and that the doors were still open for all other Nkrumaists parties.
In an address, the Volta Regional Chairman of PNC, Mr Victor Nyaxo, described Dr Mahama as “the next president in 2009”.
He disclosed that seven parliamentary candidates had so far been elected for the Akan, Ketu-South, Ketu-North, Nkwanta-North, Krachi-East, Hohoe-North and Keta constituencies.
The Publicity Chairman of the party, Mr Henry Asante, alleged that reportage on PNC activities in the region was not good and pleaded for an improvement.
The PNC presidential candidate was accompanied by the National Women Organiser, Hajia Ajara Ali.