Former Finance Minister and MP for Akim Oda, Yaw Osafo Maafo on Thursday declared officially to contest the ruling New Patriotic Party’s presidential slot for the 2008 Elections. After several months of speculations, Maafo, who also previously held the portfolio of Education and Sports Minister in the current administration, said he would definitely be a candidate when the NPP opened nominations. In a statement issued in Accra, Mr. Osafo-Maafo assured his supporters, friends, sympathizers and the nation that even though he had been quiet about his intentions for the contest, he had not been idle. He said he would soon unveil his vision and plan of action for the NPP and the nation at large as he prepared to lead the NPP into the 2008 polls. Maafo told Joy News that his experiences in the different political roles which brought him to experience at first hand the needs of society and an urge to serve the nation were his motivation to put in the bid for the presidential post and believed he had been adequately equipped for the task. He gave himself a 10 out of 10 chance to win the party’s slot.