Free enterprise and a market economy are principles the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have always believed in and not something which was forced upon them, a member of the party, Dr. N. Nyaho-Tamakloe has stated.

In an exclusive interview with Ghana Review in London, Dr Tamakloe said that the party has always been recognised by the international community as true democrats and will, when voted into power, use this recognition to attract investment from local and foreign investors.

He said the NPP believes that though Ghana needs a stable government, the country does not need the type of stability which is held together by soldiers who are even "not part of the regular army". Rather, the country needs the kind of stability which is obtained by having well set-up and administered political and democratic institutions and governments.

Referring to the 1996 elections, Dr Tamakloe said the NPP has agreed to the proposed electoral alliance of all democratic opposition forces in the country. To this end, the NPP congress in August will not select presidential candidate. Rather it will elect only the members of the National Executive Committee of the party. Asked whether this does not infringe on the constitution of the NPP, he said the constitution only states that the Presidential candidate cannot be elected before August. This presupposes that the candidate could be elected anytime in August or long after that. He strongly denied allegations that there is a leadership crisis in the party.