Takoradi, Nov. 20, GNA - Mr Alan Kyeremanten, an aspiring presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said on Tuesday that even though he expected to win the presidential race in the first round, he would accept a strategic alliance with any of the aspirants to boost his chances.

"I will not rule out any strategic alliance with any of the aspirants to boost my chances" he said at a media briefing on his campaign tour of the Western Region.

Mr Kyeremanten said after touring the 22 constituencies in the Region and other parts of the country, he was sure to win by a margin of between 60 and 70 per cent of the total votes when the party goes to congress in December.

He said even though he had the respect and admiration for the other aspirants, the combination of skills, career profile both local and international placed him "streets ahead" of all of them. "In all humility, I am the one cut for the job among the lot", Mr. Kyeremanten said, adding that he had adopted "effective campaign strategy, efficient organisation and good quality message to make him the best choice of the delegates.

He said looking carefully at the background, exposure, experience and credibility of all the aspirants; none of them could match him in the struggle for the mantle of leadership of the NPP. The NPP presidential aspirant said he would give priority attention to industrialisation with a bias for agriculture, information and communication technology, infrastructure and tourism development if he became president.

"The people must choose a president who can add value to what had been achieved during the past seven years", he said. He said he would create jobs and engage in "grassroots capitalisation that would make poverty a thing of the past". On the current situation about the Presidents Special Initiative (PSI), Mr Kyeremanten said the programme was one of the proud achievements of the government to expand the economy even though "some people only re-echo negative comments about it". He commended the media for its contribution towards the successful implementation of government programmes to enhance development but cautioned practitioners to be circumspect in their reportage so as not to infringe on the rights and independence of individuals. 20 Nov. 07