DR Mahamudu Bawumia, the running mate of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has described the December general election as a battle of ideas and not a war. He said the NPP was presenting a battle of ideas and focusing on issue-based campaign to win the hearts and minds of the Ghanaian electorate. Sharing his impressions on his campaign tour so far with the Daily Graphic on Monday, the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana said the Ghanaian electorate was very concerned about how education, healthcare, jobs, water and housing, among other needs, would be accessible to them and not pander to mayhem, war and violence. He said the common enemy confronting Ghana was poverty across the country, and how to address this problem was the challenge facing the nation. "I think the political scene is very exciting as we are reaching the end of electioneering". He, however, expressed concern that "we are seeing tensions emerging because political parties are anxious to get their political messages across". He maintained that the political scene needed not be partisan with people attacking personalities rather than focusing on issues. "We want to see decent campaigns so let's agree to disagree. We should not destroy the country we hope to build", he said. He said Ghana had an opportunity to build on a stable economy with the rule of law working, adding "there is no reason to jeopardise that". He was of the view that the NPP under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would bring competence, visionary leadership and the 'I believe in Ghana' spirit on board for the development agenda of the country. On the violence in Tamale and Gushiegu, he said: "We have to see Tamale in a broader context" because he had a good visit to that part of the country. He continued that throughout his tour of the three northern regions he received enthusiastic and very impressive support. He said Yendi and Tamale in particular were phenomenal and he was "just amazed". He expressed the view that those on the other side of the ‘political divide must have been' petrified, hence the unfortunate development. He added that the NPP was very determined to bridge the development gap between the south and the north by creating job opportunities, making education and quality access to health paramount and building a future for the youth. "That way we will have less opportunity for people to be idle and give hope for the future", he stated. In this vein, he reiterated the pledge by the NPP to set up a one billion Ghana cedi fund as an opportunity to bridge the gap and bring in private sector participation to support the programme. "I am pretty confident and sure that with the kind of issue-based political message the NPP is offering the Ghanaian electorate, the NPP is winning the December elections", he added. He said the NPP was poised to take Ghana to the next level of structural transformation, having stabilised the economy and managed the macroeconomic challenges. He cautioned Ghanaians not to hand over political power to any political party that would come on the scene of governance and only begin to wonder what to do next. "The NPP has a track record and we will build on the solid record of President John Agyekum Kufuor to move Ghana forward", he assured. Source: Daily Graphic