WA, Nov. 28, GNA - Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, a presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said money, ethnicity and religion had never been serious factors in the choice of the party's presidential candidate but rather an aspirant's track record and contribution to the party informed the decision of delegates.

"NPP is not for sale neither does one's religion nor ethnic origin influence delegates in the choice of the presidential candidate for the party since 1992 and this time too the delegates are looking for somebody with a proven record of performance that indicates that such a person can lead the nation".

Mr Osafo-Maafo was briefing newsmen at Wa after a campaign tour of the 49 constituencies in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions during which he interacted with constituency executives, polling station chairmen elders and opinion leaders of the party to canvass them for their support in his presidential bid.

President John Aguekum Kufuor, he said, had built a solid foundation for accelerated development and the country was moving towards the next stage of accelerated growth. "I believe I am the one to lead the party to this stage of accelerated growth".

Mr Osafo-Maafo described the setting up of the Northern Development Fund as a laudable initiative although some of the delegates during his interactions with them said the seed money was inadequate. "It is up to the next government which I am going to lead to promote the idea by convincing the international community to put money into the fund for development of the north for it to catch up with the south".

He mentioned deplorable state of roads in the north as the critical area of concern for his future government. Mr Osafo-Maafo said he did not believe that voting at the NPP congress would run into a second round and that NPP delegates did not have a tradition of distributing their votes to all presidential aspirants.

"I will score a one-touch victory at the congress as delegates are convinced that I am the one who will attract floating voters to ensure victory for the party as NPP supporters alone cannot give us victory". He said there would be possible alliances among aspirants before the congress.