Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Captain (Rtd) Nkrabeah Effah Darteh has said that the Convention People's Party (CPP) was of no threat to the New Patriotic Party (NPP

). "Look, let me tell you, the CPP is of no threat to us, we are going to win hands down in the 2004 elections," Capt. Effah Darteh told journalists during an interaction at Ada-Foah.

"We are in the districts and we know what is going on, you people just sit at the radio stations and talk, go to the districts and see for yourself," he confidently said with a broad smile.

The remarks by the deputy minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region, came in the aftermath of the CPP congress last weekend when it elected the party's flag-bearer for the 2004 presidential election.

It was also in reaction to increasing criticism that the ruling party has failed to deliver on some of its 2000 campaign promises. Among those promises, which continue to haunt the NPP, is the creation of 100,000 jobs within the first year in office.

Even though the party has issued a disclaimer to that effect, many political opponents often use it to launch attacks on the government.

The CPP, which is very popular internationally but is struggling locally to regain its old stature, is considered by some political observers as a more credible alternative to the NPP and poses more threat to the ruling party than the leading opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).