Koforidua(E/R), Aug. 09, GNA - Defence Minister Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, last weekend formally declared his intention to contest for the presidential candidature of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Dr Addo-Kufuor told teeming supporters of the party at the St James Hotel at Koforidua, in the Eastern Region "To judge him by his deeds, speech and actions, particularly successes chalked as a Minister of Defence since 2001."

He enumerated his achievements with a powerpoint presentation on the physical developments and improvements in the military's infrastructure.

Asked by a supporter if he was not going to fall out with other contestants as a result of his ambition, the Defence Minister said the other contestants were his friends and "What I am doing is seeking the opportunity to build upon the foundation which has been laid now by the NPP administration."

"I am against the trading of insults," he told the supporters. Deviating from the character of most politicians, Dr Addo-Kufuor refrained from using invectives on the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) but rather commended the party's administration for the role it played in initiating some projects at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra as well as the proposal for the establishment of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre.

Answering a question as to whether it was proper for him to vie for that position when his bother was the sitting President, he said, "I am my own man. When I was nominated for the position of Minister of Defence, nobody said that since my brother was the President I should not be vetted. I was vetted like other nominees because I am an individual."

"I have my own constituency and serving as an agent of the President like other agents," he said.

He told them: "The President is a servant of the people of Ghana and we his ministers are only agents carrying out his orders." This drew cheers from the gathering, with some already declaring him the likely choice for the slot.

Some of the party members openly gave their support to him even before the party went to congress to decide who attains that position, with some commending him for being able to keep the military out of partisan politics and unwanted adventurism.