The Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma South and Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Theresa Naa Ameley Tagoe, has noted that the strengthening of the basic structures of the NPP as a party must be seen now as paramount than the racing for the presidency, Madam Theresa Tagoe a.k.a T.T who polled the largest votes cast for the NPP in the greater Accra region in the December 7, 2004 general elections.

She said even though she had no problem with anyone in the party who had presidential ambitions there is the need to secure the very basic pillars of the party before thinking of who represents the party in 2008 as it is on the ticket of the party that one could do so.

She said without this, one's ambition of becoming President of this nation was perhaps without substance and good planning. The Deputy Minister said this when The Vanguard sought her views on the recent media blits about Hawa Yakubu's intention to contest for the presidency.

She added her voice to the call by the Vice President Aliu Mahama on all the place the party's interest and that of the government first as the Kufuor administration had promised to fulfill to ensure Ghanaians were empowered economically, "I support the Vice President's call because we have a lot to do as a government" she said, adding, "the people of this country have given us the mandate and they expect us to deliver. I think we should concentrate and remain focused to give the people what they need."

The former Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Madam Hawa Yakubu, recently declared her intentions to contest the 2008 presidential elections on the ticket of the NPP. In an interview with an Accra-based FM station, Madam Hawa Yakubu said she was positive that she would get the support of the majority as well as the big shots in the NPP including President Kufuor to enhance her chances of becoming the first female present of this nation.

On the Asawase by-election which the NPP lost to the NDC, Madam Tagoe said it was a bad step however, she and her party were not scared by he results as the seat was not theirs in the first place. When asked whether she had any presidential ambitions, the evergreen politician evaded the question and answered "I can't say it now because we just came out of elections." She also refused to say whether he would want to go to parliament for the fourth term. According to Madam Tagoe, age is catching up with her so she may give way to other people as her family was not too happy with her being in active politics.