The 'action man' proclaims at his campaign launch: Hackman the man, Hackman your man, Hackman the party man ,

Hackman Owusu-Agyemang officially launched his flagbearership campaign yesterday at a social centre he built at Oyoko near Koforidua with a promise that when he is given the nod and wins the general elections to become the next President, his government would review the possibility of National Service personnel doing at least a greater part of their National Service with the military in residence to inculcate the spirit of patriotism and discipline in the youth.

The New Patriotic Party presidential candidate declared, "Discipline will be rigidly enforced in all aspects of our life as a nation.” His government would establish a National Development think-tank drawn from government, the private sector, industry, academia, youth, trade unions and all sides of the political divide.

The think tank, he said, would be involved in ideas generation and would basically focus on doable ideas leading to policy formation and implementation. Mr Owusu-Agyemang, who is the MP for New Juaben North told his constituents, “I am here to ask you to release me from service to our great constituency as your MP, and allow me to use the experience and capacity I have built over the years to lead our great party and to serve the greater interest of mother Ghana, our beloved country.”

He added, “Today I offer myself to embark on the quest for a new and challenging mandate in the service of our great party at the national level.” Mr Owusu-Agyemang promised that he would serve Ghana with honesty, humility and dedication, bearing in mind that it is only the NPP government that would be able to lead Ghana to the promised land.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang, considered a major contender in the crowded NPP race, said corruption will be tackled vigorously under his regime, stressing that, “all assets declaration by government appointees above and including Directors must be verifiable and superintended by a bi partisan committee of Parliament and other regulatory bodies.”

Reforms in the educational system would be reinforced so that the youth of Ghana are all challenged to develop their God-given talents and equipped with nation building skills and included in the wealth creation process. “We must reclaim the future of our children together,” he pleaded. Mr Owusu-Agyemang told the cheering crowd that the choice of a flagbearer should be a true party man with global perspective and experience and the one with the necessary competence, courage, character and special love for the NPP. “I believe that I have enough experience both as a party man with global perspective to deal with the challenges of our time. I believe that my credentials assume gargantuan proportion in this regard,” he said.

He said he has through the life of the party demonstrated his commitment to the NPP as no other party member has done, adding, “I have stoically stood by the party in thick and thin whether in the acquisition of our original Kokomlemle Headquarters or the resolution of the infamous Concordia Ventures saga or the acquisition of vehicles or the setting up of the Party Club House or the resourcing of the party.”

Mr Owusu-Agyemang made a pledge to those he termed as hardworking and fearless foot soldiers of the NPP that, “never again shall we forget you, when you select me as your flagbearer for 2008 and we win the great victory that shall be surely ours.”

He gave his word: “My pledge to you is that at the seat of government, there shall never be a day when a new Pharaoh comes that will not know Joseph.” The function was chaired by the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Yaw Kyekye Amoabeng and attended by a large crowd, including chiefs and many party functionaries, such as constituency executives from the Eastern Region and elsewhere.

Journalists who attended the function included A C Ohene, Charles Sam, Adakabre Frimpong-Manso and Asare Otchere-Darko. Statesman/Dr. Ayisi