Kumasi, Oct. 2, GNA- Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, aspiring NPP presidential flagbearer, has urged the media to challenge the various candidates seeking to become the president of the nation to convince Ghanaians of their innovative agenda, which would be different from what was being done currently.

He said even though the NPP government under President Kufuor had done a lot for the socio-economic development of the nation, there was the need for fresh and bold initiatives to propel the nation to further heights.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Monday, Dr Apraku hinted that he had developed specific priority areas, which the NPP government under his leadership, would pursue to speed up the nation's development.

They include the development and efficient deployment of ICT, the tourism and industrial sectors as well as the agricultural sector.

He said there was the need to re-examine the way things are done in the country, adding that, he had strong views on where Ghana must go.

Dr Apraku, who is also the Member of Parliament for Offinso North, said he had developed a blueprint of his vision for the country in the various sectors of the economy and said education, which was one of the priority areas, would receive massive support.

He said under his leadership, each of the ten regions

in the country would be provided with a well-endowed public

university while each of the districts would also have a technical

school. Teachers in public schools would be encouraged to

attain university education while all senior high schools and

district assemblies would be connected to the Internet and ICT

facilities within four years.

The Inspectorate Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES) would be reactivated and equipped to promote

effective supervision and discipline among both teachers and

students, he said. Dr Apraku was worried about the poor linkages

between education and industry as well as agriculture and said

the continued use of cutlass and hoes in agriculture after 50

years of nationhood was an indictment on the country's

educational system. He said science and technology would be given the

needed attention and its potential harnessed to speed up the

country's development. He would also work to ensure that, honesty, hard

work, decency and commitment were rewarded in the country

as well as the promotion of higher moral values at all levels of

society. 2 Oct. 07