Region

Takoradi, Aug. 17, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday said Western Region is dear to the heart of the government and that there were far reaching initiatives to open up the area. He appealed to the people to regard the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as their own and give it their maximum support in the upcoming elections to enable it to continue with its programme to improve the lives of the people.

President Kufuor was addressing a mammoth rally at the Takoradi Polytechnic Park to climax a three-day annual delegates' congress of the NPP.

The congress was held at the Sekondi College on the theme: "We are moving forward".

President Kufuor said a 65-million dollar 100,000 tonne-capacity cocoa warehouse would soon be constructed at Kejabil near Takoradi and that work will begin next month.

He said the Takoradi Port, as well as the railway network would be rehabilitated and expanded, adding that a 90 million-funding had been secured for the rehabilitation of the Ghana Railway Company.

"The lives of the seaman, which has disappeared from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, will re-emerge when the oil industry begins," he added.

President Kufuor asked Ghanaians not to follow people who give promises but fail to deliver on them.

"We promise and deliver and you should take us by our words," he added.

Vice President Aliu Mahama said the nomination of Doctor Mahamudu Bawumia, as running mate to the NPP's flag bearer Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the December elections was laudable.

He said Dr. Bawumia joins the party with a political name, competence, humility, youthfulness and that he is knowledgeable. Alhaji Mahama urged all Ghanaians to rally behind the NPP for total victory in December.