A 44-year-old timber merchant and father of five who holds a diploma in marketing, has joined the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race. Mr. Kwabena Adjei, a Kumasi-based timber merchant and an acclaimed businessman who made the declaration in an interview with The Enquirer, said that he was responding to numerous calls by friends, sympathizers and well wishers of the NPP to run for president. He said that it is in the recognition of his fight to get the party's top hierarchy to embrace foot soldiers, polling station and constituency executives as the backbone of the NPP that they are urging him to contest for the flagbearership. Mr. Adjei said the foundation has been laid by President J. A. Kufuor for the party and the nation should not be derailed by old folks within the party. "An energetic and youthful person has to be elected as the flagbearer of the party, and I have that energy to be the one", he said. He said the world order in politics is changing, adding that it is also time for that wind of change to blow in Ghana and move, especially, through the NPP. Mr. Adjei was emphatic that because of the ambitions of the aged members of the party who are ministers, government machinery has broken down. Most of them are using the time meant for official work for their campaign. He intimated that the actions of the old folks are having far-reaching ramifications on the party, and that should cease. "Most of our ministers are above 65 years and most of them have been in parliament for three to four tenure, and are still not ready to make way for the youth," he added. He said that there is too much evidence of back-biting and internal bickering within the party, and he is the only person to prevent such situations and bring unity and progress into the party. "I can say without any fear that some aspirants are using money to destroy other contestants and that is not good for the party", he said. Mr. Adjei said it is important for the youth in the NPP not to side with the aged contenders who are dishing out huge sums of money to become flagbearer of the party because they are only creating problems for the party. "As youths, we should not be enticed with money, but must rather look out for somebody with the party at heart", he said. He said with his record in the party, he is confident that all will be well with him. "I am a footsoldier; I have helped in so many ways to keep the NPP flame burning, and the delegates will not let me down", he said. Asked what financial contributions he has made toward the fortunes of the party, Mr. Adjei said: "let the other contestants make noise, for me; the party members are there to judge me". He disclosed that his campaign would be concentrated in three regions, and he would leave the other regions open. He noted that he would make the NPP more attractive to the youth who form the majority of the voting age. "I am in the race to save members of our dear party who have been in difficulties although our party is in power", he said. He gave the assurance that recognition and reward would be given to the youth if elected as the flagbearer of the party. Mr. Adjei said he would soon unveil his plans for the nation, and how he intends solving numerous problems confronting the nation. "I have a lot in store for Ghanaians, but for now, I am taking my message to the good people of NPP which I know will have impact on them", he said. Source: The Enquirer