Accra, July 29, GNA - The People's National Convention (PNC) has offered Ghanaians abroad a duty free clearance regime, to motivate them to comeback home and contribute towards national development. "I will offer all Ghanaians who have been abroad for at least six months or longer, duty free clearance of their goods and property and a PNC government shall assist those who want to relocate at a city of their choice in Ghana," Dr Edward Nasigire Mahama, the party's flag bearer for Election 2008 told Ghanaians in North America.

Dr Mahama and some leading member of the party who are on a campaign tour of America have so far touched based with Ghanaians, African-Americans and the African communities in Lansing Michigan, Chicago.

In an electronic mail to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday, Dr Mahama called on all Ghanaians abroad to come home in their numbers as a PNC led-Government would consider all citizens of Ghana as shareholders in national development.

"A PNC Government shall establish a most enabling environment, using the views of all who have practical ideas to contribute to the commercial, social and economic development of our country. "We shall cherish role models in business, the professions, trade, science, technology and other pursuits. Instead of penalizing, victimizing and harassing role models, investors will experience an excellent, facilitating

and unprecedented climate for growth," Dr Mahama stated. "There is a great deal to be done back home. We need sincerely to identify the blocks to our individual and national progress while each of us must support and boost the healing and rebuilding of Ghana's economic and social wounds.

"Simultaneously, in the management of our national affairs, we must exercise the appropriate levels of modesty, irrevocable commitment to transparency, accountability, probity and honesty. Each and everyone of us needs a change in our individual attitudes. I believe that I can be trusted with the leadership of our nation," Dr Mahama said. He said what the country needed most was principled and honest leadership. "If the people of Ghana elect me as their president, my ceaseless duty will be to galvanize all the talents and energies available to us, regardless of our respective political persuasions, religious beliefs, age, gender and ethnic roots." Dr Mahama distributed copies of the PNC Election 2008 Manifesto and other party paraphernalia.

Alhaji Ahmed Ramandan, PNC National Chairman, said a PNC-led government would create enabling environment for Ghanaians shareholding and related joint venture investment in various income-earning private or joint private-government investments that Ghana previously peddled abroad in search of foreign aid.

He said the venture would lead to the reducing and eventual limiting of the national external debts while the nation shall sooner than later regain increasing independence in managing its national economic and social development in a manner that was devoid of various conditionalities.

Alhaji Ramandan explained the social, economic and political situation in the country, saying "the time has come for Ghanaians to show the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the way out. "With all the goodwill Ghanaians showered on the NPP in 2001, the party has woefully failed the electorate and must be booted out of governance. They have hit their limit and there is urgent need for a change of Government."