AS THE New Patriotic Party kingpins battle delegates to give them the mandate to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor in the 2008 general elections, Hon.Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the three-time Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim-Oda, has not only stated his claim but also believes that it will be easier for the NPP to win hands down if he leads the party.

Almost sixteen of the aspirants have picked their forms and two have already filed their nominations.

According to Hon Osafo-Maafo, for anybody to lead the nation and continue with the good legacies of the current President such a candidate must have a proven track record with credible proof that he had done it before and could do it again. "It is important to know that I have a testimony that I have served my party and government dutifully and for one to lead the nation, there must be ample evidence that you have performed and can do it. I can tell you that it will be easier for the NPP to win with Osafo-Maafo." He declared.

Hon. Osafo-Maafo, who was nick-named 'Oyeadeeyie' for his sterling performance as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and later as Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and how he managed, during his tenure to take Ghana to the World Cup, made this known yesterday at the party's headquarters when he picked up his nomination form.

The only aspirant who was accompanied by his wife Anna Osafo-Maafo and two of his children averred that the nation would be doomed if delegates elected a candidate who did not have the vision and the capability to continue with the policies of JAK.

Declaring that education is his passion, he stated that though the nation's economy is in a good shape, the NPP needed a candidate like him to take it to the next level.

"The nation needs accelerated economic development. I have a hand in the economic stability of this nation and I can maintain it further," he said.

The 64-year old politician who was very diplomatic with his campaign strategy said, "My vision is that we need to take the economy to the next stage and if we are not careful the future of the nation will be doomed if we do not have leaders with vision." The ability to deliver does not require shouting on rooftops but to be able to market oneself with what one could do for the nation through the creation of jobs.

Recounting his role in leading Ghana to the famous Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative, the unprecedented World Cup at Germany and the part he played at the National Investment Bank and the Bank for Housing and Construction among others, Oyeadeeyie, said he believed that the delegates would not see money as a consideration to vote but vote according to their conscience. He stated that the delegates assembling at the December Congress were discerning enough and would vote for a candidate like him who has the ability to reach out for non-NPP votes in the next general elections.

Mr Osafo-Maafo also stated that he did not believe in opinion polls. Sharing his views on the recent surveys, he said after touring the 230 constituencies in the country on two occasions and about to complete the third, none of the constituency executives had informed him that their views had ever been sampled. According to him it was only one person in the Eastern Region who had said somebody had called him on the phone and had asked his choice and he declaring that it was Osafo-Maafo. But the aspirant was quick to add, "After touring all the constituencies, I am totally convinced that I have the grass-root support and will win for the party."

He said though one of the biggest challenges that would face the party after Congress would be to unite its members towards the next elections, he said he had the potential and the wherewithal to foster unity within the party.

He said he did not see the problem with people going to pick forms with pump and pageantry, adding that, that was their style.

In a separate development, another strong contender, Mr Hackman Kwame Owusu-Agyemang, who also picked his form yesterday stated that he believed that having served the party in various capacities, the delegates would not make the mistake of not voting for him at the December congress.

Believing in the theory of creating and sharing equally, he highlighted his track record. According to him, he was a party foot soldier and noted that the battle to succeed Mr Kufuor had only just begun.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang, whose messages mostly centre on party unity and consistent calls on the aspirants to be conscious of their utterances, said when given the opportunity, he would be a dynamic and purposeful servant of the nation.

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, the second aspirant to complete and file his nomination, also contended that he had what it takes to lead the country after President Kufuor. He later addressed the press in his house where he further unveiled his vision and plans for both the delegates and the country.

Dr Arthur Kennedy who also picked his nomination form, said delegates had now bought his vision and ideas and believed that his messages were now gaining roots in the minds of the delegates.

He asserted that though there was a possibility of division within the party after the congress, based on allegations of support to some aspirants, he said, he could unite all after the congress. "I believe that this nation needs quality of minds rather than money and I believe I am the winner."

He said the delegates have decided to vote for him to battle Prof. John Evans Atta Mills because he has a passion for people.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chief Executive of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, also unveiled his achievements and tasked the delegates to consider him as the best among the lot.

The Heart Surgeon, who stormed the offices of the party amidst pump and pageantry, said it was ability to deliver that mattered.