Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday declared 2007 as the foundation year for Elections 2008 to enable the party plan and implement effective and efficient strategies to retain power.

'We are going to empower party activists, foot soldiers and the rank and file with strategic modern politicking for mobilization, re-organization and information to neutralize all opposing forces with sound in-depth debate,=94 Mr Michael Omari Wadei, Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency Chairman of the party stated at a delegates' conference in Accra.

The conference was attended by constituency and polling station executives as well as leading members of the party in the constituency. Mr Omari Wadei said the party would soon outline modalities for the selection of a successor to President John Agyekum Kufuor.

He said the party's candidate should be someone who would be acceptable to all Ghanaians and had the requisite political experience and connections to mobilise both local and international support for the development of the party and the country as a whole.

"The party does not necessarily need a rich person or an intellectual. The challenge is to elect a leader who will unite and become a bridge between the elite and the average citizens," he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.

He stressed that what the party needed now was total support. 'We must unite, stay focused especially before, during and after the election of a presidential candidate for Elections 2008. We must stand solidly behind the Elephant and the principles of the Danquah-Busia tradition.'

Mr Gorge Isaac Amoo, former Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, appealed to the party executives to come out with immediate operational directives to reduce the number of people who want to become the presidential candidate of the party.

He said Article 14 of the NPP's constitution stated, among other provisions that, the party could adopt rules to regulate its activities. Mr Amoo, whose presence at the delegates' conference was greeted with laud applause, noted that this was the only way to ensure discipline and enhance efforts to unite all factions within the party to win the confidence of the electorate.

He also appealed to all presidential aspirants to co-operate with the elders of the party, through the national, regional, constituency and polling station executives and work to eliminate any form of divisions within the party.

Mr Amoo appealed to minority parties and social commentators for sobriety, objectivity and commitment in discussions concerning issues that impact on the country's politics and social welfare of the people.

"While multi-party politics necessarily involves conflicting views and opinions, it is important that even in seeking to win popularity, the fundamentals of the issues which affect the economic and social well-being of our people are still dispassionately and objectively debated and handled.'

Mr Amoo therefore challenged the minority to suggest alternatives rather than simply hastily throwing accusations at Ghana's current economic managers.

The Constituency Secretary, Mr John Gyasi commended polling station executives for their cooperation and support over the past year and urged them to continue to work for the retention of the seat in 2008 Elections.