Kumasi, Nov 24, GNA - An aspiring presidential candidate on Thursday said development of Ghana had stagnated because of the destruction of the country's rich culture.

Mr Owusu Ankomah pointed out that no country would progress without a culture and that the "present woes" facing Ghana was as a result of wholesale adoption of western culture to the neglect of the nation's rich culture.

"We have allowed the western culture to destroy us," the aspiring candidate told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi in an interview to declare his presidential ambition.

He held that the western type of democracy was a disaster for Africans, adding that this type of democracy had succeeded in destroying countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone, which were now struggling to rebuild.

Mr Ankomah said it was most unfortunate that after several years of independence, "Ghana is still groping in the dark", whilst a country like India, which attained independence just 10 years before Ghana, have advanced so fast almost to the level of the developed countries. He said other Asian countries, some of which had their independence at the same time as Ghana, had also made giant strides and were far ahead in terms of development.

Mr Ankomah attributed the achievements of these countries to the fact that they still held on fast to their traditions as a source of inspiration for their development.

Commenting on the current political situation in the country, he asked Ghanaians not to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because both parties had deceived Ghanaians.

Mr Ankomah, who is famous for declaring presidential ambitions and later backing out, apologized to his supporters for letting them down in the 2000 and 2004 elections by withdrawing his candidature. He said he faced certain difficult situations which accounted for his withdrawals but stated that he was now clearly aware of what needed to be done and therefore gave the assurance that this time round he would stay.