A leading international research unit, Paralegals Association (PA) based in Wa in the Upper West Region has conducted a nationwide poll that places Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku ahead of other aspirants in the run up to the NPP December congress to elect a standard bearer for Election 2008. The group's finding spanned the month of July this year and was conducted throughout the 230 constituencies of the country. It also relied on respondents who have close contact with the party's activities since it was formed. Unlike in the past where numerous unsubstantiated polls were conducted, this particular poll draws credibility from the fact that it was conducted in a way that makes it representative of the views of significant party members, including constituency executives in all the ten regions of the country. The research unit took time to select respondents close to executives in all the• constituencies. The proxies included those of the chairman, vice chairman, organisers and women organizers, the rest are those of youth organisers and secretaries in the constituencies. The study revealed that Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku was clearly their preferred candidate and if the NPP congress were held today, "he will win hands down!" as some of the respondents claimed. The poll indicates that, Dr. Apraku leads the other aspirants with 40%; followed by Nana Akuffo-Addo, 20%; Alan Kyeremanten, 15%; Alhaji Aliu Mahama, 14%; Osafo Maafo, 4'%; Hackman Owusu Agyemang, 20/0, and Dan Botwe,2%. According to the report, Dr. Apraku is leading the polls due to his contribution to the establishment of the New Patriotic Party. He was instrumental in writing the party's manifesto and constitution, and also helped with the formation of Danquah-Busia club; they also cited his personal financial contributions to the party. Some of the people interviewed also took into consideration his commitment and sacrifice for the party, as well as his distinguished academic career in the United States of America during which time he set himself on the path to fight for democracy in Ghana, which at the time was under Rawlings' dictatorship. Some of the interviewees assessed the aspirants by their accomplishment and distinguished services to the party from 1992 to 2000, their leadership role among other issues, and in six out of the ten regions. Dr. Apraku was tipped as having won the hearts of the people with his rich experience on economics and finance for the NPP while in parliament from 1997 to 2000. The polls suggested that the NPP executive proxies, who were interviewed, considered Dr. Apraku's distinguished achievements at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and also at the Regional Co-operation and NEPAD. They also mentioned his competence, experience, training and understanding of Ghana's economic problems and how to solve them. Source: The Independent