President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had united the country, saying, "Ghana is united as never before."

He was addressing a national rally of the party at Takoradi to climax the three-day national conference and delegates' in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis during which he was re-elected NPP flag bearer for the 2004 general elections.

President Kufuor said since the party assumed power it had not been discriminatory in providing development projects. He called on the members, sympathisers and supporters of the party, to continue to rally behind the government in its determination to make Ghana the reference point for development within the West African sub-region.

He said the campaign for the 2004 elections had already begun adding that, if even former President J. J. Rawlings were the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), he would be defeated.

President Kufuor said the Inchaban-Sekondi road had been awarded on contract to Sonitra construction for work to begin soon. He said the Asankrangwa, Enchi and Juabeso roads would also be rehabilitated this year.

President Kufuor said the Takoradi Harbour would be rehabilitated and a Chinese economic team would soon arrive in the country to access the problems facing the Ghana Railway Corporation to determine the assistance it would give towards the rehabilitation of the system.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President, called on the party members to remain united. He said Ghana has stood tall among the community of Nations since the NPP government came into power two years ago, because democracy had been deepened and transparency and rule of law had been the order of the day.

Vice President Mahama thanked Ghanaians for their co-operation and support for the government. The rally was also addressed by Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, minister of foreign affairs, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, minister of defence, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, minister of health and Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, minister of education and the various regional Chairmen of the party.