Winneba, July 24, GNA - One of the Presidential hopefuls of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, has stated that he would consult executives of the party at all levels before appointments such as Ministers and District Chief Executives if he gets the nod to be the flag bearer to win the 2008 elections.

He said, "The last mistake I would never commit is to appoint people to the high positions without the consent of party executives, which can spark off acrimony, panic and anarchy among members". Dr Apraku said this when he addressed executives of the NPP from 18 constituencies at the end of a two-day tour of the Central Region at Winneba.

The tour was to reassure them of the promises he had made to them to win their support in the forthcoming congress of the NPP to elect a flag bearer in December this year.

He said, "Do not throw your support for people who have come from US and other foreign countries," adding that, they should give the nod to people who started the struggle for democratic change in government in 1992.

Dr Apraku promised to serve them with humility if they selected him to lead the party to the 2008 elections, saying, "You have suffered for far too long and I will turn the economy round to improve your living conditions".

He urged them not to support those who were using money to buy votes and said, "Vote for people who have served the party for a longer period".

Dr Apraku said the NPP needed someone who could turn the economy round to alleviate the suffering of the people and reminded them of his performance when he was the Minority Spokesman on finance. He said that his commitment to the private sector was clearly demonstrated when he was the Minister of Trade and Industry during which the Export Development and Investment Fund was established to provide credit for private sector operators.

According to Dr Apraku he restructured the Ghana Export Promotion Council, which gave an added impetus for export of non-traditional products, adding that, as a result of the initiative, non-traditional export increased by about 20 percent each year between 2001 and 2003. He said he championed the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) making Ghana the first West African Country to be granted the AGOA visa for no quota no tariff export to the United State. 24 July 07