Coalition For A Better Ghana (CoaBeG) D 672/3 Derby Avenue, Accra. Tel:+233.21.676394

Ghana, Our Hope.

PRESS STATEMENT

We have followed with keen interest the increasingly raging heated contest for Presidency amongst aspirants of the various political factions in this country for the past few months and wish to congratulate all Ghanaians for the peace we are enjoying.

Given the complexities of our beloved country, we must appreciate the responsibilities and difficulties of leading a plural country like ours. Therefore, our past and present leaders deserve the nation’s gratitude. We commend H.E President John Agyekum Kufuor not just for his extraordinary performance and commitment to our nation, but also mainly for having the courage, dedication and patriotism in shouldering the huge burden of Ghana’s leadership, especially under a democratic setting. The contribution of past governments including the 19 years rule of the P/NDC under the leadership of H.E Flt Lt J J Rawlings cannot be underestimated. We join the many Ghanaians all over the world to salute these illustrious sons of our motherland for their brevity and input.

As Ghanaians, we must celebrate without partisanship the healthy domestic economic base with inflation rate around 17%. Rapid improvements that have been recorded in the banking, insurance, health, transportation, sports, education, etc. This legacy of the current government is ample testimony that the tide is turning for the better, and heralds an important starting point for building a truly strong, just and prosperous Ghanaian nation which our founding fathers dreamt of, and which our present and future generations shall be proud of. As nationals seeking a better Ghana, it is for as a compelling necessity to sustain the giant strides towards national development as laid by previous government.

Today, the Capitation grant, School Feeding Programme, LEAP, Metro Mass Transport, National Youth Employment Programme, National Health Insurance Scheme, Free Antenatal Care, Solid economic foundation amongst others have brought some hope to the Ghanaian people. These obvious gains have undeniably positioned the 2008 elections as very crucial and critical especially in the choice of who becomes the next president.

In our quest to ensure that this country moves rapidly along the path of sustainable and irreversible development, we wish to identify with a true leader who will work robustly to sustain what has been achieved using small and medium scale industrial initiatives to create a strengthened middle class where the national economy will be private-sector driven and will create an environment that will encourage Ghanaians to actualize their own hopes and aspiration and whose vision strives to draw us together as a people, to improve governance and chart a clear path to future greatness. A better Ghana can only be realised with one whose vision for this nation will make our dream of being strong, united and virile is achieved; where people who work hard can succeed; where the weak, the sick and the old amongst us are cared for, supported and encouraged; where religious, ethnic, sectional and other backgrounds will count less in accessing opportunities; and where, by respecting our difficulties and working together to meet our responsibilities, our diverse Ghanaian community will grow stronger, our people become wealthier, and our prosperity, unity and greatness as a nation be more assured. We are convinced that this country can only attain her economic and developmental goals by electing a leader who believes that the cumulative effect of our human resources, our abiding social creed that each Ghanaian is entitled to meaningful employment, massive job creation, increased agricultural production, robust infrastructural development, quality education and health care while positioning our country effectively towards the attainment of our goal of national transformation.

The fact is that; we cannot retreat from our problems; rather we must advance to confront them. A lot of effective work has been done; but more work still remains to be done. As the saying goes, “the axe cannot rest until the tree has fallen”. So we must elect a leader who will continue to hack at the tree of ethnocentrism, nepotism, corruption, illiteracy, ignorance, disease, poverty and all the other blights that have constituted road-blocks to our progress and national cohesion.

Like other Ghanaians, we shall massively support a candidate who believes that Ghanaians are a resourceful and creative people capable of holding their destiny in their own hands and walking tall in the comity of nations.

In a survey conducted in November, 2008 by The Coalition for a Better Ghana, it came out clear that most Ghanaians, about 51.9%, out of the 500 respondents interviewed, preferred the orator who has his agenda based on a strong record of performance and proven ability rather than on political rhetoric and unsubstantiated claims and whose legacy of service whiles on duty to the nation is the core value on which his campaign is based as against his closest rival with 48.7%. Polls of very reliable local and international organizations have confirmed our survey. The Primary Research Associates, Research International (RI) and Bureau of National Investigations predicted a 50 – 52% in favour of NPP.

The electorates averred in their choice without ambiguity that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is undoubtedly the God-sent selfless, dynamic, competent, proactive leader for the new Ghana. His style of leadership is direct and visible. His adherence to policies that in fact impact positively on the largest number of people is reflected in his strides in his 30 years involvement in frontline politics and the Ministries he served whiles a Minister. The unbiased survey revealed that most Ghanaians believe in the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo because he has personal traits of honesty, high code of ethics, respect for democratic principles, emotional stability, energetic, and high integrity. This obviously has given him an edge over his competitors. He has had an excellent preparation for the job of the President which has given him the necessary qualifications/skill-sets needed to lead our country in 2009 and beyond. Nana Addo is very passionate about Ghana and Africa. He is honest, trustworthy, hardworking, eloquent, and likeable and has the charisma to lead our country. The ticket of Nana Addo and Dr. Bawumia has the humility, charisma, personal integrity, and temperament to lead the country.

We are by this objective statement calling on all discerning and well-meaning Ghanaians to vote massively for the popular choice: Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP. A vote for Nana is a Vote for Prosperity and Continuity.

God bless our homeland Ghana; And make our nation great and strong where the aspirations of all Ghanaians will be materialized.

Long live Ghana.

Harold Kwarteng National Spokesperson 0274549441

December 03, 2008

Coalition for a Better Ghana (CoaBeG) is a non-partisan movement of Ghanaians seeking for the betterment of Ghana.