Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, one of the leading presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has stated that amongst all the contestants in the race, he is well grilled and brewed to take over from President Kufuor.

The former Minster for Trade and Industry, and Regional Integration and NEPAD told the media in Bolgatanga after touring all the 13 constituencies in the Upper East Region that he had acquired a lot of experience in all spheres of endeavours that placed him second to none amongst all the aspirants yearning to lead the NPP for the 2008 elections.

He said in 1998 when he contested with President Kufuor and Nana Akuffo Addo, the issue that came up was that he was too young and needed more experience and also to serve the party more. "I have since acquired a lot of experience", he stated.

"Politically, I will have at least 12 years experience as a Parliamentarian and five and half years as a responsible Minister of State", he said, pointing at the school feeding programme, Africa Peer Review Mechanism, establishment of craft centres, the impact made on non-traditional exports and the support given to business as some of the achievements made and legacies left during his term as a Minister at the Ministries of Trade and Industry, and Regional Integration and NEPAD.

"If you talk about a candidate that has experience, achievement, professional experience relevant to the needs of Ghana, I feel better prepared, capable and able to lead this country", Dr. Apraku confidently said.

He said he had worked with UN as a leader of economic team that helped to rebuild war devastated economies, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers for two years and Governor for ECOWAS Bank for Investment and) Development, and has had the opportunity to put economics into practice and worked with Presidents throughout the sub-region and elsewhere, and that had given him so much experience.

Within the party, "I have contributed financially, intellectually and physically to bringing into being the Danquah-Busia club and the NPP. I served as Minority Spokesperson on Finance and Economic Planning from 1992 to 2000, therefore on the basis of service, achievement, relevant background and training to the problems oft Ghana, I am qualified."

"As somebody who left this country at the age of 17 and lived in the United States for 22 years, I took my life into my hands building a responsible life, went through bachelor, Masters and PHD on my own, I have learnt what it means to be a responsible person.

“As somebody who comes from a rural background, I know the circumstances in which the rural people find themselves. I know the challenges in growing up in a poor home and I know the dignity in hardworking, which had brought me where I am today. I am better prepared than anybody in this race to succeed President Kufuor", the presidential hopeful emphasised his readiness to lead the country.

On the key areas to focus, Dr. Apraku, who believes in the magic of Information Communication Technology (ICT) said, "If I were the President, my priority sector will be ICT, it is moving the world's economy", noting that all the countries which had recently developed did so by means of ICT.

Another area the former Trade and Industry Minister looked determined to focus is the industrial sector.

He said Ghana could not continue to depend heavily on imported goods, stressing the need to activate every system in this country to strengthen the industries, not only to produce to create jobs for our people but also to export. He noted that the barriers of trade had been removed as a result of globalization; therefore if the country could produce good quality products at reasonable and competitive price we would survive in the world market.

Dr. Apraku added that tourism, education, health and human resource development are "fundamental to our nation’s well-being and would be given the needed attention.


Source: The Chronicle