Snippets of credible information available to The Independent speak of a frantic search by the Convention People's Party (CPP) for a candidate to partner the party's presidential candidate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, as a running mate to do battle with the other political parties in the 2008 general elections. According to our information, the search is not just for any candidate, but a female candidate, and as the search intensifies with the ticking of the clock, The Independent can say on authority that, some of the names that have popped up are, by themselves, enough to set your imagination flying with puzzles and doubts and definitely set tongues wagging. The Independent can confirm that, Dr. Nduom has made it categorically clear that, he would prefer a lady as his running mate. And credible information from the corridors of the powers-that-be in the CPP, and from sources close to the party's presidential candidate have hinted that, some of the names that have popped up include Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, currently a member of the Council of State and former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and Miss Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and one time Minister of State. The name that comes with tones of puzzles is that of the former NDC Member of Parliament for Awutu-Senya Constituency, Mrs. Hannah Tetteh-Kpodah. Other personalities whose names have popped up fur consideration as running mate to Dr. Nduom include Nana Oye Lithur, a human rights advocate and wife of Tony Lithur, who is Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings' lawyer. Another is Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, then there is another lady with a financial institution who hails from the north. The Independent can say without fear of contradiction that the party is to begin consultations with the six women mentioned and barring any unforeseen circumstances, one of them would emerge as running mate to Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom. Acredible source close to Dr. Nduom confirmed our information when this paper contacted him and added, "The search will finally come to a close by the end of this month." Meanwhile, the CPP presidential candidate is to hit town today with his campaign dubbed, "Yen ara asaase ni" - (Land of our birth). AS part of his strategy, Dr. Nduom is to kick-start his campaign in the major markets in Accra, and then stretch it to other regional capitals. Dr. Nduom told The Independent that, the purpose of his campaign for now is to thank delegates of the party for the decisive mandate given him at the party's congress in Kumasi, and to also take the opportunity to introduce himself to various stakeholders in the political system in the country. His target includes traditional authorities, market women, traders, employers and religious leaders among others. To Dr. Nduom, who was one-time Minister of Energy, and has ever been Minister of NEPAD and Regional Integration, it is time for Ghanaians to benefit and profit from this land and what Ghana has to offer. The CPP candidate, who is the immediate past Minister for Public Sector Reforms, said, since 1993 Ghanaians have sacrificed for political and economic stability and it is now time to get the dividend from all the sacrifices and goodwill given to the political parties that have ruled this nation in the recent past. He told this reporter that, a Dr. Nduom, led government will run an administration that will give advantage to Ghanaians in public and private sectors. The CPP flag bearer said, since 1993 both the NDC and the NPP have said the private sector is the engine of growth, but ironically, they (private sector operators) do not have what it takes to operate their businesses. He promised to reverse the trend to actually empower that sector to fuel the economy. He asked, "How come the private sector in Korea and Malaysia are doing well," and added, "That is so largely because of government support for their operations in the areas of low interest loans, advice aimed at helping them to grow, and ready and available markets to trade their products and services. That, the CPP flag bearer said, would go a long way to assisting them to grow, expand and be able to employ more hands to reduce unemployment. Dr. Nduom mentioned companies such as Kabelmetal and Tropical Cable, which manufacture quality electrical cables suitable for international markets and all types of wire works. He lamented that, instead of patronizing their cables, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Volta River Authority (VRA) "still import their needs from other countries." Dr. Nduom promised that, should he be elected President of Ghana he would ensure that companies such as those two cable manufacturers are supported to grow and expand through home patronage of their products. "I expect our markets to give advantage to our local industries," he said and mentioned companies such as, Milani local fruit juice manufacturing company, and the Suame Magazine, as some Ghanaian institutions that need help to manufacture quality products. "With that we do not have to import fruit juice from other countries, a practice that has the potential of killing local initiatives and companies." Dr. Nduom gave the assurance that, his government would embark on the type of development embarked upon by former US President Theodore Roosevelt, whose strategy helped to transform America within the shortest possible time. Source: The Independent