Politics of Saturday, 27 November 2004

Source: GNA

NDC supporters advised to ensure peaceful campaign

Kwahu Tafo (E/R), Nov. 27, GNA- Former President, Jerry John Rawlings, has advised supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to conduct their electioneering campaign in a peaceful atmosphere. He said they should avoid confrontation with their opponents to ensure the success of the December election.

He said for the sake of the people of the country, they should control their tempers over provocative attitude from political opponents.

The former President was addressing a large number of NDC supporters at Kwahu Tafo and Nkawkaw on Thursday, as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region.

He said before he left office, the average Ghanaian could educate his child from the basic school to the university level while hospitals were constructed in all the regional capitals.

He said a number basic schools were also constructed in some parts of the country, while electricity was extended to all district capitals and other communities.

Flt Lt. Rawlings (RTD) however, said presently, parents could not afford the high school fees being charged, electricity and health bills could also not be paid, adding that even "some parents had to pay bribe to second-cycle and University authorities before gaining admission for their wards."

He, therefore, urged the people to vote massively for Prof. John Attah Mills and all the NDC Parliamentary candidates to enable them continue from where the party left off.

The former President said the NDC used the 41 trillion cedis being accused of to have been misapplied during their tenure of office, to finance a number of development projects throughout the country and urged the electorate to demand from the NPP government how they have utilized the 42 trillion cedis loans they contracted within their four years rule.

The Eastern Regional chairman of the party, Mr Fred Ohene Kena, said the NPP had failed to fulfil its electioneering campaign promises and should therefore be voted out of office in December elections.