Mankessim (C/R), July 14, GNA - Mr John Dramani Mahama, the Presidential running mate of the National Democratic Congress Party, on Monday assured the people of Mfanseman West district that the Mankessim market would be rebuilt to benefit its status as a leading trading centre.

Speaking at the launch of the party's campaign in the Mfantseman West district at Mankessim at the weekend, he said, the rebuilding of the Mankessim Market, to be given priority under the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is to befit the market's status as one of the leading trading centres in the country. Mr Mahama who introduced the NDC Constituency Candidate, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah to the electorate, noted with regret that the Mankessim Market, which served as the bread-basket for not only the people in the Mfantseman Municipality but others in the region and beyond had not seen any major rehabilitation for many years.

He described the much heralded claim by the government that it had established a buoyant economy as "a hoax", saying; "how can majority of the citizenry live in abject poverty under a buoyant economy?"

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South expressed regret that the government in a desperate effort to win votes had been awarding contracts indiscriminately without thinking of where it would get money to pay the contractors.

He said this had landed many contractors who were made to pre-finance the project in heavy debts with their bankers. The situation, the MP pointed out, had either compelled the contractors to do shoddy work or abandon the projects altogether. Mr Iddrisu predicted that the economy would nose-dive by September this year as the government had no new plans to salvage it and called on Ghanaians to vote it out.

Mr Quansah called for a clean electioneering campaign, devoid of insults and mudslinging, since Ghanaians were one people with a common destiny.

He said health, education and job creation would be his priority areas.

"I will encourage the people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them to access affordable healthcare, ensure that school-going children who were not in school were enrolled and also support needy children to further their education," he pledged. Mr Quansah said he would ensure that the defunct Saltpond Ceramics was reactivated; pineapple and oil palm, the two major crops produced in the area get processing factories to create jobs for the youth. He said he would seek a support from some countries to revive the fishing industry which was on the verge of dying.