The People’s National Convention (PNC), on Saturday launched its manifesto for the 2008 general elections with the promise of using science and technology to propel the country’s economic growth. The PNC is the first among the political parties contesting this year’s general election to outdoor its manifesto. Dr Edward Mahama, the flag-bearer of the party, who lunched the manifesto under the theme: “Real change/Real hope”, said the Ministry of Science and Technology would be the focal point for policies and operational plans “that formulate, coordinate and infuse all national policies”, of the nation’s economy under a PNC-led government. He said the on-going worldwide revolution in technology and informatics would be used to transform the country’s education, research, agriculture, fisheries and environment. He said a PNC government would also ensure a balanced and democratic national economic and social development to slow down the migration of the youth to urban centres. Dr Mahama said the PNC would also create conditions for the voluntary reverse migration of people to revive life in the rural areas by boosting productivity and prosperity at all levels. He said he would improve upon the capacities and effectiveness of the Auditor Generals Department, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Serious Fraud Office and all other agencies charged with the elimination of fraud and injustice in national life. He said more importantly, the Office of the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions would be separated from the Ministry of Justice and given an independent status. On local government, the PNC leader said the system was only meaningful when people fully participated in making decisions that were relevant to their own development aspirations and could also monitor the effectiveness of projects funded by their taxes. Accordingly, a PNC government would provide matching resources to encourage community self-help projects and also explore the need to make the position of the District Chief Executive elective. Dr Mahama said under his leadership the Operation Feed Yourself Programme, which was initiated under the Acheampong regime, would be revived with renewed vigour to address the food deficit in the country. Other highlights of the PNC manifesto dealt with its foreign policy, reconciliation, rural development and urban concerns and the Armed Forces. Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Chairman of the PNC and Mr Moses Daniba, MP for Sissala East were among leading members of the party at the manifesto launch. There were solidarity messages from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP). Source: GNA