An Accra-based legal practitioner, Mr Bright Oblitei Akwetey, has said that women would be at the centre of his development agenda, if given the mandate to govern the country. Mr Akwetey, who is contesting the position of the flagbearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP), said the party had a strong tradition for the participation of women in national development and that when given the mandate, he would ensure that that was reinforced. He was briefing the media in Accra on Monday about why he wanted to lead the CPP in the 2008 elections. "In that capacity as President, I would possess the requisite authority and mandate to lead that transformation into a strong, powerful, industrialised, prosperous and secured nation," he said. The 58-year-old former State Attorney promised that within 100 days in office as president, he would gather all identifiable women's groups; Academia, Parliament and other stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the women's manifesto for Ghana. "That would assist us to enact the appropriate portions of the manifesto into law and enable us to give Affirmative Action the requisite focus," he added. He said education, agriculture, employment, science and technology, and sports would be given the appropriate human and capital resources, as well as the fitting political support, "with science and technology, particularly ICT, at the forefront of the development strategy". Mr Akwetey said education from the pre-school to the tertiary level and technical education would be tailored to the requirements of the new development strategy and gave the assurance that teachers would be adequately remunerated for their invaluable services to the nation. He promised that scientists, especially those at the various universities and those at the Centre for Scientific Research Institute (CSIR), would be well paid, encouraged and challenged to produce results for the local industrialization process, and in effect ensure full utilization of such results from research institutions to promote industrialization. Explaining his development agenda, he expressed regret that after the brilliant start by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's government, successive governments had led the nation back into the conditions that prevailed before independence, with inequalities and inequities growing under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments. Mr Akwetey said to reverse these unfortunate trends, the concentration must shift to the provision of basic necessities of life for the people, because the state must not shirk its responsibility to the poor and marginalised on the pretext of privatization and capitalism. He said his administration would concentrate on building a strong Ghana, powerful and self reliant with full control over its strategic assets and natural resources. "I want to see Ghanaians as proud, confident, disciplined and law-abiding citizens, whose standards of living are measured not only in GDP terms, but also by the extent to which the average Ghanaian can afford good quality health, education, shelter, clothing, food and employment and has the opportunity to travel in decent transport and also secure and safe roads," he said. Mr Akwetey, who once investigated and prosecuted economic crimes in Ghana and The Gambia said Ghana needed a president who had demonstrably shown the courage and audacity to fight corruption, because the time for lip service to fight the canker was over. He said since the Judiciary played a pivotal role in the fight against corruption, the problem facing members of the bench and their auxiliary staff would be addressed, adding that "in return, I will demand unimpeachable and impeccable services from them. Our judiciary must be number one in Africa and among the best in the world and I promise to make it so". Source: Daily Graphic