Winneba, Feb. 20, GNA - The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr Haruna Esseku said at the weekend that the party is poised to rule the country for the next 30 years to strengthen the pillars of democracy in the country.

This, indeed include the rule of law, sustained economic progress and social stability among the various Ghanaian communities.

Mr Esseku said this at a special get-together organized by the leaders of Effutu constituency branch of the party for its followers in appreciation of the good work done during the recent general election. He charged all followers of the party to work harder and strife to avoid procrastination and complacency to enable the party to realise its dreams.

He reminded members of the party throughout the country, of the 30 years in opposition, which the party went through after Ghana gained independence and stressed the need for every member to do his or her best to maintain the party's rule for the next 30 years. Mr Esseku praised the NPP faithful in the Effutu constituency and the Central Region at large, for the extra effort they put in during the electioneering campaign to make the party record a landslide victory in the Central Region.

Speaking at the function, Mr Samuel Kofi Owusu-Agyei, the MP for Effutu and a Deputy Minister of Health, reiterated the call on the people of Effutu State to bury whatever differences there were amongst them and to collectively initiate measures to regain the enviable image of the Effutu Traditional Area, which he said, was fast sinking as far as development was concerned.
He said with the snatching of the Effutu constituency parliamentary seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the subsequent deputy ministerial appointment conferred on him by the President, the challenge for the NPP faithful in the Effutu constituency to make extra effort to improve the lot of the constituency and the nation at large have become more crucial.
"It is therefore, incumbent on all Effutus, irrespective of their political, ethnic, creed or religious affiliations to come together as members of one formidable family to push ahead the development of the Effutu State."
Captain Steve Kwamena Armah (Rtd), District Chief Executive for Awutu-Affutu-Senya urged members and supporters of the party to team up with all government agencies charged with the responsibility of sensitising the public on government policies and programmes to educate Ghanaians on the new petroleum product prices and the need for them to accept the outcome of the petroleum deregulation exercise.
Capt. Armah said in spite of the increases in the various petroleum products in the country, what is currently prevailing in neighbouring countries like Cote d'Ivoire and Togo are higher than what Ghanaians are experiencing now.
He therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to cooperate with the government in its determination to improve the energy sector and the economy.
Earlier, Mr Enoch Annan, Effutu constituency Chairman of the party urged members of the party to cooperate with followers of other political parties in the constituency so that they could influence them to join the NPP before the next general election takes place in 2008.
On behalf of the leaders of the constituency branch and the entire membership of the party, Mr Annan expressed his profound gratitude to President J.A. Kufuor for appointing Mr Owusu-Agyei as Deputy Minister of Health and assured him of members support and cooperation to ensure the success of Mr Owusu-Agyei's new assignment.
He also congratulated the MP on his appointment as the Deputy Minister of Health.