The Convention People's Party (CPP) has sent a signal to the so-called big parties that it is now "strong and ready to compete" for victory in the 2008 general elections. Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, the party's presidential candidate, addressing a mammoth rally of party supporters in Accra on Sunday said both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party are short of ideas on how to move the country forward. This he said, has necessitated the need for a change; and the obvious choice is the CPP. "We are not going to sleep at the Flagstaff House; we are going to work hard to ensure that Ghanaians become prosperous." Responding to cheers from the teeming crowd who have gathered at the Holy Gardens, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, amidst intermittent shouts of party catchphrase 'yeresesemu’, Dr. Nduom asked Ghanaians to expect a “miracle” come December. The day was used to introduce the party's running mate, Dr. Abu Sakara Foster; it also coincided with the 99th birthday anniversary of the party's founder, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who was also the first president of Ghana. Even though the event was slated for 12:30 pm, party functionaries thronged the rally ground early in the morning clad with party colours and paraphernalia. The momentum was electrified when Dr. Nduom stormed the rally ground around 2:25 pm. As a gesture to prove party unity and to demonstrate that the CPP is a force to reckon with, Dr. Nduom was momentarily joined by his fellow contenders, except two, for the flag-bearership position during the party’s congress last year. Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa and George Aggudey were the missing links. Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom said the CPP government would ensure that education from the kindergarten to the senior high school (SHS) becomes "free, compulsory and continuous". He also said the necessary facilities would be put in place to contain all school-going age children and even those who fail to make the appropriate mark to enter into the present SHS. He said the CPP is an industry-oriented party and promised to create more jobs and revive old factories to increase employment rate for a prosperous nation. He said Ghanaians were deceived by the NPP in 2000 to vote according to the condition of their living standards, but after seven years, Ghanaians are faced with the same problems and affliction; this he said is a lesson for people to also consider their “light” pockets and vote accordingly. The flag-bearer cited the recent clashes in Gushiegu in the Northern Region to remind Ghanaians that a vote for the CPP represents a vote for peace and stability. He said under a CPP-led government, the work of legislators would be well defined and separated from the executive. "I want to change Parliament, so that Parliament would be strong, so that Parliament can do what parliamentarians are supposed to do, so that people don’t go to Parliament to become ministers. “So that people don’t go to parliament just to say yeah, yeah, that we have people who go to parliament to make better laws,” he stressed. He sent the minds of Ghanaians down the memory lane into 1966 where anything associated with Dr. Nkrumah was criminalized, which was by then aimed at "killing the CPP". He was therefore elated about the ability of the CPP to resist the pressure and survive the hardships it experienced in the late sixties. He was also inspired by the number of “strong and energetic” men and women at the rally; "Who would have thought a year ago the CPP would be as strong as it is today.” Dr. Nduom reiterated the need for Ghanaians to elect their own district chief executives "if they are smart enough to elect their own parliamentarians and president". He entreated his supporters to endeavour to live in harmony with people from different political parties and make sure there is always peace in Ghana.