A leading member of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) William Dowokpor has called for a radical transformation of Ghana’s political system to pave way for sustainable socio-economic development that reflects in the living conditions of the people. “We all know there is something wrong with our economy but what we refuse to know is that, the people responsible for our economic calamities are the same people who promise to fix the economy every election year when they want political power. As soon as they win, they replay the record of turning around to blame previous administrations and explain away, why they cannot fix the economy. The truth however is that, we cannot fix our economy without fixing our political system. And the time to do it is now!” he declared. William Dowokpor, who is also the PPP Parliamentary Candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, made the declaration at a meeting with residents of Railway Quarters in the constituency on AU Day. He charged them to be awake and vigilant when agents of the old parties approached them with money to buy their votes. He advised the electorate to collect the monies but vote against the old parties on December 7, explaining that the monies so shared to the electorate during elections, are monies that should have been used in undertaking development projects to improve their living conditions. “Right now I know that progressive and many well meaning Ghanaians are concerned that, in the absence of campaign finance laws requiring politicians to show their sources of campaign monies, the country remains prone to the danger of organized criminal gangs sponsoring candidates and parties to attain political power in return for future protection” he warned. The PPP candidate appealed to the constituents to think long term and consider future generations when they decide who leads the country after the 2012 elections. “Will you continue to vote for people with a mentality that treats the national purse as something to be plundered for themselves and their family members or people who send agents with handouts to influence the direction in which you vote every four years and refuse to create opportunities for you and your children to also become financially independent?” he asked. Admonishing the residents against wasting their votes again, William Dowokpor said; “When they say your vote is your power, it is not meant to be in exchange for the GHC10 or $10 bills the old political parties have started sharing. It is an opportunity for you to carefully select good visionary leaders who will make and implement policies that deliver evident socio-economic development that every Ghanaian can see and feel in their lives and not in mere statistics”. “This election is all about the alternative PPP that is working hard to change our politics to make government work for the people. It is not about government and the usual opposition. We know what they have done in 20 years and what they can do in another 20 years. The alternative PPP is committed to change, even to changing portions of our constitution to bring democracy to the door steps of the people, by allowing then to elect their own Mayors and District Chief Executives. In the alternative PPP administration there will be no MP doubling as Minister of state. When the new politics takes effect in 2013, the Attorney General’s Office will be separated from that of the Minister of Justice to prevent the President from sacking him when he or she decides to fight corruption without fear or favour. These are the sweeping changes the alternative PPP will bring to change our politics, to ensure accountability in public office and good economic management. We cannot fix our economy without fixing our politics” he reiterated.