Salaga (NR), Oct. 3, GNA - Alhaji Boniface Abubakari Saddique, Deputy Minister of Tourism and the Modernization of the Capital City on Saturday told critics that his decision to join the NPP for the 2004 political race was due to the party's developmental agenda and freedom. He said "Though the people of Salaga chose me because I stood as an Independent candidate in the last election, the good works of the NPP and the freedom that the party brought in to the country convinced me to go fully with them".

Alhaji Saddique said this in Salaga on Saturday, when he officially introduced himself to the electorate as the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the constituency and launched his campaign for the 2004 elections. "I didn't know the NPP has the people of Ghana at heart until I was appointed to serve in government" he said, adding, the party was made up of people who were committed in seeking the welfare of every Ghanaian.

Mr Saddique, who is also the incumbent MP for the area said the road to the Castle was very "rough" and needed patience to drive through saying, "This year's election is based on ideas and not a matter of representation in Parliament or entering the Castle". He told the people of Salaga and Ghanaians in general to judge the NPP in line with the development of the country and not just for the sake of winning elections and that the party wanted to leave behind a legacy that would benefit the future generation.

Alhaji Saddique listed the development projects he had been able to embark during his appointed as a deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and as in his current position and called on the people of Salaga to denounce all parties and vote for the NPP whole heartedly for victory in December. He appealed to the executive body of the party in the constituency to bury all their differences and rally behind the NPP for a convincing victory in December and called the electorate to make the elections peaceful. He said Gonjas by nature are peace loving and warned that if there was a Gonaja indigene who detests peace, that person does not deserve to live in Gonjaland and should leave the rest of the people in peace. The MP regretted that at this crucial time of soliciting the people for votes, there was internal wrangling in the party and pleaded with members to ensure that understanding and forgiveness prevailed within their ranks.

Alhaji Salifu Abdul Raman (C.O.P), Regional chairman of the NPP said NPP was sure of victory and nothing could prevent them and called on the electorate not to listen to other politicians who would "poison" their minds with wrong ideas just for the sake of winning power. He said the NPP would win all seats in the region to surprise all critics and called on Ghanaians to give the party a second chance to finish with all the good development projects that the party has embarked.