A presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku has commenced a formal campaign tour in the 39 constituencies in the Ashanti Region at break-neck speed to catch up with the other aspirants. The tour in the Ashanti Region, which forms part of activities to solicit support for his bid, comes as the ninth one after eight others had already visited the Region to raise support for their presidential bids. After Ashanti Region, the former Minister of Regional Integration and NEPAD hopes to kick-start a campaign tour of the Volta Region. According to him, his visit to the Ashanti stronghold of the party at this time was to get the "feeling of what is happening in the area and reinforce "our (himself and his team) sense of winning and ask for support from the delegates.” In all his visits, the Economics Professor told Journalists at news briefings that he had opportunities to interact with the party's kingmakers and therefore, was confident of annexing the flagbearership slot when the party goes to congress to choose a candidate. He hinged his confidence on positive responses he claimed to have received from the delegates and other dons in the various Regions and Constituencies. "We have come home (Ashanti Region) to reinforce our sense of winning and ask for support. It is very important to come here at this time because we needed to ensure that Apraku enjoys support throughout the country, and indeed, we have been accepted in all the Regions visited", he explained. The former NEPAD and Regional Integration Minister said there is no single region where he is disturbed about his chances of sweeping votes of the delegates. He boasted that he is better placed than other prospective aspirants of the party and that this would transform to a win for him. The presidential hopeful, who is the Member of Parliament for Offinso North Constituency, believes he has in him what the kingmakers of his party want and mentioned competence, track record of dedicated, committed service and loyalty, and unblemished track records of achievement and success. "In this respect, I have done my share and I can tell you (the newsmen) for a fact that nobody is better placed in our party (NPP) than Apraku beginning from 1991 when I arrived in Ghana from the States by the invitation of Professor Adu Boahen," he noted and said that since then, he had not stopped working for the party for a minute, hour or day. The NPP presidential aspirant subsequently travelled in memory to dig up his personal contributions to the party in terms of its formation, drafting and putting together of its constitution, manifesto and party symbol as well as intellectual, academic and physical works leading to its present state as a political party in government. "It is remarkable that just about four or five months after I had arrived in this country, I was made the Spokesperson for the party. Even though I was not known enough, yet I was entrusted with such a responsibility. "Why would a party endowed with so many other Economists and Technocrats with capabilities put its faith and fortunes in a new-comer then?" Prof. Apraku asked rhetorically and continued that it was because of hard work and tenacity of purpose, determination and commitment to the cause of the party. Dr. Apraku also believes he is the most mature, experienced and visionary leader to match the NDC presidential candidate, Professor J. E. A. Mills, after having worked for 12 solid years as an MP, five and half years as a Minister of State in two Ministries - Trade, Industry and Regional Integration & NEPAD - and economic team leader for the NPP during opposition days. He again laid claims to the Millennium Challenge Account project as a product of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism during his leadership at the NEPAD Ministry, and AGOA during his time at the Trade, Industry and PSI Ministry among others. Culled from The Chronicle