Alab John Kwadwo Kyeremanten, a top contender tipped to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2008 elections, after the party’s congress in December, has pledged to make northern Ghana what he termed the “economic power house of the country.

The world acclaimed and seasoned Private Sector Practitioner, noted with certainty that it is possible, provided there is a political will and a government-backed development plan. According to him, if indeed the nation’s economy for now depends largely on Agriculture, then a deliberate workable action plan should have been developed to take advantage of the vast fertile land and the local people’s love for farming to provide food for both local and international markets, thereby creating jobs.

“Chief” as is affectionately called Kyeremanten was addressing NPP Constituency Executive members, Polling Station Chairmen and Agents as well as a cross section of supporters of the party drawn from the three constituencies in Tamale, just as other Presidential Aspirants have been doing.

The euphoria, image and controversies that have been associated with his campaign and the ‘Cash’ that has been added to his full name, may have been the pulling factor that brought a large crowd of both old and young to the meeting place at Radach Memorial Center in Tamale.

On the issue of Northern Ghana becoming the economic power house of the nation, Chief Kyeremanten said the distance though can not be shortened on the ground, plying it can be made less stressful, fast and cheap. He mentioned the introduction of an effective and safe water transportation using container-liked vessels on the Black and White Volta Lakes, to cart goods and persons at affordable cost. Chief Kyeremanten said under his administration, road and air transport would be improved and would ensure the fast tracking of the railway system the New Patriotic party has vowed to revamp to link the North and the Southern part of the country.

He outlined some of his achievements during his tenure of office as the Minister of Trade, Industry and the President’s Special Initiatives as measures were put in place at Savelugu in the Savelugu-Nanton district to cultivate large acres of Sugar cane in the Northern region. It would serve as a source of raw material for any Sugar or Ethanol production company in Ghana and abroad. Chief Alan Cash was hopeful that by the end of December 2008, Savelugu will cultivate the quantity of sugar cane that could produce 100,000 tones of Sugar per annum, eight million gallons of Ethanol per annum and Electricity power of 60 megawatts per hour to supplement the National Grid. “This and many other projects that I started before resigning honorably from my position as the Minister of Trade, Industry and the President’s Special Initiatives, are still being pursued by my Deputy and other staff, due to the quality and opened leadership traits that I exhibited in the Ministry” he said . These are the qualities that Presidential candidate of our great party should have.” Mr. Kyeremanten noted.

Answering a question on what different he would do should he become the next President of Ghana, Mr. Kyeremanten mentioned four priority areas, which he said have for a very long time been in his heart. He would ensure a greater boost for Industrialisation, which will see to the creation real jobs, especially in the Agricultural sector. He would also ensure a massive infrastructural development, coupled with ICT which is fast becoming the driving force behind most economies in the world. “T

“The nation has a lot of tourist attractions, which unfortunately have not been developed to the level that yield the desired revenues, I will place more emphasis on the development of the numerous tourist attractions, to enable Ghana to assume an enviable position on the tourism chart in the world.” Mr. Kyeremanten added in a more serious mood.

The 50-year-old Economist, Lawyer and Private Sector Consultant rubbished claims from a section of the party, including some of the opposing Presidential Aspirants that he was only brought from outside the country and planted into the NPP and President Kufuor’s government. He said all true founding members of the party would attest to the role he has played in the formation and development of the New Patriotic Party. “I have also been a member of the National Executive Committee from 1992 to date, a member of the Economic Management Team and the NPP Finance Committee. I was a founding member of the Young Executive Forum, which has been doing most of the advocacy and lobbying for the party to galvanise the professional and business community to support the growth and development of the NPP” he said.

Chief Kyeremanten continued, “…most of the members of this group are in sensitive positions of the party. People in this party know my credentials and so not look elsewhere for a leader”, Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremanten noted.

He expressed regret at some negative utterances reported to have been said by some members of his campaign team against other Presidential Aspirants, saying he has on many occasions distanced himself from such comments and has also been cautioning his campaign team against indecent statements.

However a sizable number of NPP activist and journalists who attended the meeting were surprised at the role the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive Mohammed Amin Adam has been playing in Alan Kyeremanten’s campaign, despite a warning from the party’s Head Office, restraining MCEs and DCEs from playing major campaign roles for any of the Aspirants.