The President, John Agyekum Kufuor says he is ready to support any aspirant who emerges winner of today’s flag bearership race.

He said the ultimate aim of the party is to find an individual who could better lead the Danquah-Busia family into the 2008 elections for a renewed mandate.

The President who was addressing delegates at the congress venue at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon was however silent on his perceived support for an aspirant in the context.

He charged the aspirants to be focussed as they prepare for the ballot and not to succumb to pressures from anyone as the party directs its energy towards finding a candidate who can marshal the best support of the electorate come 2008.

President Kufuor touched on certain government policies including the National Health Insurance Scheme and the recent oil find as a pointer to development in the country.

Representatives from other political parties including the NDC and the CPP were there to give solidarity messages.

Seventeen stalwarts are gunning for the flagbearership but delegates’ expectation is to find an aspirant who can win the most support for the NPP to serve another term in office after the 2008 elections.

The congress follows weeks of tension within the NPP as aspirants employed different communication channels and forms to market themselves to delegates.