Accra, Aug 22, GNA- Dr Kwaku Osafo, a presidential aspirant of the Convention People's Party (CPP), on Wednesday called for a debate among the party's five contenders before the third national delegates congress.

"Elections 2008 would focus mainly on issues and CPP needs a credible, well informed presidential candidate, who would be able to stand against any of our opponents on any platform to debate on national and international issues," Dr Osafo told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

He called on the Central Committee of the CPP to collaborate with other related organisations to immediately prepare the ground for such a presidential debate.

"Our delegates and the nation as a whole needs to assess the CPP presidential aspirants to know our capabilities as to which of us was capable of governing the nation, since governing is not based on empty popularity," he said.

Dr Osafo also called on the party activists and the other five aspirants to be circumspect in the comments they make during the process leading to the party's congress to maintain unity and cohesion even long after the congress.

He also appealed to the media to desist from scandalizing any of the candidates contesting the presidential slot of the party. He said aspirants and their activists should be held responsible when their comments creates tension and mars the cordial and peaceful relationships that had existed within the party. "CPP has a bright chance of winning the 2008 general elections because both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had failed to continue the legacy bequeathed to them."

He said the CPP during its tenure of office established the needed infrastructure including schools, roads, hospitals, pipe borne water and rehabilitated the ports, "what was left was the management of these infrastructure but unfortunately both the NPP and NDC had woefully failed to bring economic freedom to the people".

Dr Osafo said the policies of both NPP and NDC had thrown many people out of job, impoverishing many Ghanaians. "NPP is killing the already existing jobs and putting Ghanaians on the streets."

"The CPP has done it before and when given the mandate, we can create jobs to bring smiles back on the faces of Ghanaians," the aspiring CPP flag bearer said.

Dr Osafo said he was capable of leading CPP to victory since he would offer a decisive leadership for the party. He however admitted that the party needed to mobilise enough funds and secure the right logistics for effective campaign. The Aspirant, who was confident of beating the other contestants, said the party needed to increase its membership and that he would start talking with those who left the party to return. "I am somebody that can bring all factions together when given the flagbearership position," he said. He urged party executives at the various constituencies to absorb his message and vote for him at the party's congress, since he was ready to deliver electoral victory to the party in 2008 and move ahead to deliver economic freedom to the nation. 22 Aug 07