Kumasi, April 28, GNA - Delegates from the 39 constituencies in the Ashanti region have pledged their unflinching support to Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo on his bid to become the presidential candidate of the NPP. According to the delegates, looking at the track record of Mr Osafo Marfo during his tenure of office as the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Education and Sports, he was the only capable candidate who would be able to win the 2008 elections for the NPP and lead the country to continue its economic recovery after President Kufuor.

The delegates made the pledge at a meeting with Mr Osafo Marfo in Kumsi.

The meeting offered Mr Osafo Marfo the opportunity to interact with the delegates and share his vision as an aspiring NPP presidential candidate for the 2008 general elections.

Mr Osafo Marfo told the delegates that, he was in the race to become NPP's presidential candidate and the next President of Ghana to consolidate his achievements and successes during his tenure as a Minister under President Kufuor.

He said the party needed a leader who would be able to win the elections and capable of managing the affairs of the nation. Mr Kwabena Acheampong, Spokesman for the delegates pointed out that, Mr Osarfo Marfo, during his tenure as the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, initiated pragmatic policies that helped to stabilize the economy and propelled it on the path of growth.

He said Mr Osafo Marfo also introduced the HIPC initiative and other international economic measures that helped the country to receive debt relief and other donor assistance into the economic.

"As a Minister of Education and Sports, Mr Osafo Marfo, was able to send the Ghana Black Stars to the world cup in Germany and won the bid to host the CAN 2008 which had resulted in the rehabilitation of the Baba Yara and Ohene Djan stadia as well as the construction of additional stadia in the country", he emphasized.

He said Mr Osafo Marfo had also been appointed by the UN as an economic advisor to the Liberian government to reshape the country's economy. Mr Acheampong pointed out that, "a person of such calibre with natural qualities of a leader cannot be thrown away but must be given the chance to lead Ghana after the exit of President Kufuor".

He said Mr Osafo Marfo, who was voted as the best African Finance Minister and second in the world by the World Bank, was "suitable and capable aspirant to solve the economic and unemployment problems facing the country".