The People?s National Convention (PNC) parliamentary candidate for the Techiman South Constituency in the 2004 general election, Mr Amadu Bermah Suleman, has defected to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

At a press conference in Techiman, Mr Suleman said although he cherished the ideology of the Nkrumahists, he still believed that the NPP government had over the years done a lot for the nation in terms of development.

?For the past five-and-a-half years, I as an individual, have seen a tremendous progress in our national development; both in human and material resources .

The human resource development has been enhanced through education ? the HIPC classrooms, the Capitation Grant for both primary and junior secondary schools and subsidies to students, especially those in the boarding houses.

In the health sector, we have the National Health Insurance Scheme, eradication of Buruli ulcer, Guinea worm, elephantiasis, etc.,? he stated.

The former parliamentary candidate said that, as a member of the PNC in the 2000 elections, he was constantly at the forefront canvassing support for the NPP, particularly in the run-off.

He added that on his campaign trail on the eve of the 2004 elections, he had always advocated unity and development among the masses of the people.

Mr Suleman, a tutor at Techiman Secondary School and a social commentator on Classic FM, a local radio station, usually defends and supports any development programme embarked on by the NPP government, regardless of a myriad of chasetisements by some members of the opposition parties.

He said on sober reflection over the years, he had now carefully decided to tie the knot with the NPP, and was also prepared to share the wealth of experience under his belt with the party so it could retain power in the 2008 general election.

He stressed that, to him, that was the only party that could redeem the nation from its economic quagmire.