Takoradi, July 27, GNA - Papa Owusu Ankomah, Attorney General and Minister Justice, has said that within the past three years, the Government had worked hard to lay a sound foundation to consolidate democracy and the rule of law that would ensure better life for the people.

He said Ghana now had a visionary leadership in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), whose policies must be supported and sustained over generations to change the direction of the country.

Papa Ankomah, who is the MP for Sekondi in the Western Region, was addressing the Takoradi NPP constituency delegates' congress at Takoradi, at which Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs was endorsed as the Party's Parliamentary candidate for Election 2004.

He said the party still needed the support and cooperation of the citizens to make the country a better place for all.

"The coming election is crucial and you should not make the mistake that will draw the country back, we should not revisit our recent past", he said.

"The NPP Government will never disappoint Ghanaians", Papa Ankomah told the delegates, and said the Party had a long-term vision to achieve the ultimate in life for the people.

Mr Peter Mac-Manu, NPP Western Regional Chairman, said the Party would capture 20 of the 22 parliamentary seats in the Region, but stressed that this could be achieved only through dedication and discipline on the part of NPP activists.

He appealed to them to remain loyal and to adopt strategies to send campaign messages of the Party to all corners of the Region to ensure victory.

Mr Mac-Manu said the NPP had evolved structures that had further strengthened internal democracy that had become the envy of many political parties on the African Continent.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said the Party had done enough in the provision of infrastructure that had gone a long way to change the lives of the people, but said there was still more to be done in this direction.

"As the result of laudable policies of the Government, many of our people including cocoa farmers now lead better lives", he said and urged the people to vote for the NPP to enable it to continue with its good works.

Mrs Asmah thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in her and said she would still work hard to enhance the lives of the people. She said so far, more than 100 billion cedis had been disbursed to individuals and women groups nationwide to support their economic activities through the various programmes evolved by the Government. Mr Joe Baddoe-Ansah, MP for Effia-Kwesimintsim, also in the Western Region, said NPP would be victorious in Elections 2004 because of the quality of its candidates.