Bolgatanga, June 17, GNA-An aspiring Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Papa Owusu Ankomah at the weekend called on the Regional and Constituency Executives of the party to give him the necessary support to enable him re-capture power for the party to continue with its good works.

He made the appeal when he toured the 13 constituencies in the Upper East Region to announce his intention to stand for the Presidential candidate and to ask for solidarity.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Bolgatanga, the aspirant, who is the Minister of Ministry of Education, Science and Sports said he had served various capacities under the present government and had gained a lot of experience which, he said, when given the nod would enable him to retain the party in power. The 49-year-old aspirant, who is a Lawyer said the party needed somebody who was highly marketable and had the skills to strategize to enable it to woo a lot of support for the party to recapture power and he believed he had all these qualities. He said he had the party at heart and noted that it was based on this background that he donated his personnal five pick-ups for the party's Regional Office in Western Region to facilitate the work of party.

Papa Owusu Ankomah said when given the nod he would unite all members of the party and ensure that sanity was instilled in the party, adding, "the youth and the old in the party would be united." He pointed out that under his leadership the Ministry had embarked on development programmes such as the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme and the Metro-Bus System.

The aspirant implored Party Executives and supporters not be complacent but to work harder to win more souls for the party. "You must not take things for granted. This is the time that you must work harder to woo more people to the party to fortify it to regain power in 2008", he stressed.

He indicated that even if was not given the nod, he would support anybody who got it for the party to win the 2008 elections. He assured Ghanaians that when voted as a President of Ghana, he would use his vast experience to expand agriculture, education, road networks and create more employment for the people, especially the youth.

Papa 0wusu-Ankomah, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to vote for him should he win the slot of the presidential candidate of the NPP to enable him to alleviate their plight.