THE FORMER Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Papa Owusu Ankomah, also an aspiring presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly rubbished the well-established assertion that sought to portray that almost all NPP foot-soldiers were disillusioned.

According to the would-be president of Ghana, the assertion was far from the real truth and charged the party youth not to be discouraged about the issue, which he said the opposition parties were using to apparently sew mistrusts amongst the party foot soldiers and the leadership.

Saying, "Those who are making that allegation have no scientific proof or evidence to back their assertion. Foot soldiers are not neglected so I challenge whoever is making the assertion to come out with evidence".

Addressing some journalists in Tamale as part of his three-day campaign tour of the North, Papa Owusu Ankomah maintained that the only problem he had identified in the NPP was its failure to institutionalize the party with the aim of empowering the foot soldiers to become absolutely depended.

The NPP aspirant observed that it had taken the hierarchy of the party too long a time to utilize the opportunities available for them as ruling party to manage the youth and enhance their lives with productive skills which benefits would be derived eventually by the party.

"NPP needs to build avenues of opportunity for its members and put in place a programme that will enable the members to understand the values and principles of the party, which I can tell you I strong stand to pursue when elected flagbearer," he remarked.

However the former Education Minister started his tour with a courtesy call on the NPP Regional Executives and shared his vision with them.

The theme for his campaign is: "Moving the Nation from Foundation to Aspiration".

According to him, it was clearly justifiable for him to succeed President Kufuor after serving in about five portfolios and assisting his administration in building strong economic foundation for the nation.

He disclosed, "As a local boy who has tasted both rural and urban lives I prioritize and enhance the decentralization process where most new institutions of the state would be headquartered outside the nation's capital".

The aspirant observed that the inappropriate implementation of the decentralization process was as a result of the large working population of the three Northern Regions migrating to the national capital, Accra for non-existing opportunities.

Papa Owusu Ankomah said his administration would give absolute hope and confidence to the people to compete globally.

He envisaged that Ghana under his government would become a national hamlet if indeed the world was a global village.

He said the youth would also be empowered to participate in governance and also see themselves as transformation generation.

The former Minister who led the Black Stars to the Germany World Cup 2006 debunked the assertion that he was working for some specific aspirants.

According to him, it was the strength of his conviction and analysis that had compared him to resign his ministerial position for the race and said he was the best candidate to ride on the back of the Elephant, come December.

He vehemently refused to believe media speculations that President Kufuor was supporting Mr. Alan Kyerematen and emphasized that: "I have confidence in my ability and hope in God that I will win the contest and for that matter I don't care about issue".