A former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Yakubu Saaka has declared his intention to contest for the Presidential slot of the Peoples National Convention (PNC).

He was a minister under the third republican Government of the Peoples National Party (PNP).

"Its time for change in the forward move of the PNC towards capturing political power in Elections 2008, I have the experience, the capacity and the capabilities to mobilise the masses and lead our great party to victory.”

He said: "I see myself as the candidate for all progressive, disenfranchised and marginalized, most especially youth, women and the myriad of civil society organizations that sincerely believe they are being ignored or patronized by the state," Prof. Saaka declared at a media encounter.

Prof. Saaka said: "If I am elected as leader and Presidential Candidate of the third largest political party in the country at our National Delegates Congress, I will work to unite PNC bedeviled with intra party, and re-galvanising the Nkrumaist Unity, which had been in limbo for years.

"I will maintain the ideals of Nkrumaism, project it as a viable and relevant political legacy and tradition in the country."

The aspiring PNC Flag bearer hails from Bole in the Northern region, attended Achimota Secondary School, University of Ghana, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Ohio.

He lectured briefly at the University of Ghana in 1978, and since the return to Constitutional rule in 1993, had worked within the ranks of the PNC.

Source: GNA