Ashaiman, Sept 25, GNA - Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo, the Flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Election 2008, has urged Ghanaians to vote back the NPP to power to continue its sound management of the economy. He said the NPP had laid a better foundation for the economy, moving the nation forward and retaining it in power would ensure that it executed its task of national development to the end. The NPP Vice Presidential Candidate told a rally of party supporters at Ashaiman that, voting back the other parties which had been in power but failed to deliver, was akin to re-assigning an incompetent mason, who did shoddy work at the beginning of a project to complete that project.

According to Dr Bawumia, Ghana's economic performance in the last seven years under the administration of the NPP amounted to 16 billion dollars, compared to the first 43 years of the national economic performance, which amounted to 13 billion dollars. He described education as key to national development, and the NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo, would ensure a free pre- secondary school education and ensure that school feeding programme would be made to cover every school in every district. Dr Bawumia reaffirmed the Party's belief in the Ghanaian citizenry to work together to bring the big dreams of economic prosperity into reality, adding that the future was about the youth of the country. He asked Ghanaians to eschew violence as the nation moved towards the December polls.

Prof Mike Ocquaye, MP for Dome Kwabenya, who was on the campaign team of Dr Bawumia, said NPP, was charting the path of running the country by democratic means rather than using violence. He described the NPP as "shock absorber government" which had weathered the storms against the world economic crisis. The party, he said would continue to receive the support of the masses.

Mrs Samira Bawumia, wife of the running mate called on economically poor communities to make the education of their children priority and enjoy the free education package of the NPP. Other stalwarts who addressed the rally were Sheikh I C Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula, tipped for the vice presidential slot and former Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive Prince Imoro Andani. The rally was also used to introduce the NPP parliamentary candidate for the area, Mr Francis Anyinator, to the electorate.