Ho, April 29, GNA - President Jerry John Rawlings on Saturday launched the extraordinary delegates' congress of the National Democratic Congress at Ho focusing on economic and political issues.

In his last address before his adoring party members as President he said, "this congress must see our economic circumstances as a challenge and work to overcome the challenges".

"We have hit a crisis. The price of cocoa is down. Gold is barely breaking even. Crude oil prices have gone through the roof." he said. Going down memory lane, President Rawlings said in the 1970s when the population was about eight million, the country was producing more than 500,000 tonnes of cocoa whose price then was 2,400 pounds per tonne.

By the 1980s, cocoa production fell to 150,000 tonnes. Today, he went on, when cocoa production is about 400,000 tonnes, the world market price is about 500 pounds.

"We must conserve foreign exchange. We must import less and ensure that what we import is absolutely essential for our consumption and production needs. We must eat what we produce and produce what we eat." he said. President Rawlings said despite the difficulties, considerable success has been chalked in several areas.

Today, every regional and district capital has been connected to the national electricity grid in addition to 4,000 other communities, he said. Telephone density has increased from less than one telephone per 1,000 persons in 1983 to more than 30 lines per 1,000 persons.

President Rawlings said the number of direct telephone exchange lines have increased from less than 10,000 in 1983 to 150,000 today. "It is now clear that if we had not broken the new economic grounds that we did in 1983, our country would be a basket case today".

"The collapse of the Soviet Union and other socialist economies and the dismantling of the Eastern bloc indicate the correctness of our choice", he said. President Rawlings said the opposition and critics of the government are well aware of the prudence of the government in being able to produce visible economic success for the country but are blinded by the desire for political power to acknowledge this.

He said the NDC is preparing to face the challenges entailed in this year's elections in the face of the tremendous challenges from the opposition and the economy.

The President said party members must act in ways and deeds to demonstrate to Ghanaians that they were wise to entrust the fate of the country into the hands of the NDC in two successive elections and they must do it a third time.

"We must not forget where we are going from". He reminded the party members. "We have faced the challenge twice before and each time we have been victorious. But previous victories must not make us complacent.

President Rawlings asked cadres who have deserted the party to return saying, "this is your home" and gave the assurance that they will not be treated as 'prodigal sons'.

He paid tribute to the role of women in the party and pledged to champion their inclusion on high party offices. As early as 6 a.m. on Saturday, delegates, party functionaries and admirers had thronged the venue for the congress at the Cathedral.

The routes to the congress centre from the Mawuli school-Ahoe junction and Ho-Dome to Ho-Kpodzi junction were jammed with party supporters, creating a sea of party colours amidst drumming and dancing with many others having their early breakfast in any available space.

By 8 am when the congress hall was opened, there was a rush by delegates for seats. The Vice-President, Professor Atta Mills and his wife,Naadu, preceded President Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings to the cathedral and were greeted with a standing ovation and party slogans and songs of praise.

The atmosphere in the hall was electrified with the arrival of the President and the First Lady. They were greeted with a standing ovation. President Rawlings' speech was punctuated by accolades to his name and that of Vice-President Prof. Atta Mills as he touched on important issues on the economy, politics and party unity and his declaration that the NDC will once again be victorious in the December general elections.

The cathedral was filled to capacity as many supporters and party sympathisers could not get seats in and had to contend themselves with standing outside. The day will be recorded as a momentous one for Ho where every available space was filled by vehicles and people.

On his future, President Rawlings said in spite of request to play important roles on the international scene on leaving office, he would rather stay in the country to help in her development efforts.