Juaso (Ash), Feb 1, GNA - The newly formed Ghana National Party (GNP) is pursuing pragmatic measures to bolster its chances in the 2008 general elections.

The Party is not only putting structures in place at the grassroots level, but also mobilising support to render it strong enough to make significant impact in the next elections.

Mr Ofori Ampofo, Executive Chairman of the GNP, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency at Juaso, said the Party was not formed merely to add up to the existing ones, but to wrestle power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He said though the GNP was an infant party, it was endowed with the expertise to liberate the nation from its economic woes and also ensure equity in the disbursement of national resources.

According to Mr Ampofo, the party possessed the antidote to the perennial social discontent and abject poverty among Ghanaians, which he said had become endemic in the society.

He noted that successive governments since independence had failed to address the plight of Ghanaians, giving room for industrial strikes and social unrest.

He expressed worry about the open display of opulence by political leaders while Ghanaians struggle to meet their basic needs as they take what he called "peanut" as salaries.

Mr Ampofo said politicians were elected to serve the interest of the people but not to amass wealth for themselves at the expense of the suffering masses.

He observed that the poor living conditions of the people over the years prompted a couple of Ghanaians in the Diaspora to form the GNP to help improve the dwindling fortunes of Ghana.

He said the ideal of the Party would be people-centred and equality for all members of society, adding that it was time for Ghanaians to enjoy the fruits of their labour by voting GNP to power.

The Executive Chairman further noted that the Party would contest every parliamentary seat and urged Ghanaians to rally behind it as it makes a landmark entry into the nation's political arena with hopes and prosperity.