Bolgatanga, Feb 28, GNA - The Upper East Regional Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Mahamud Mahama, at the week expressed optimism that the NPP would retain power in the 2008 election. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, he said for the past two years, the NPP Administration had chalked a lot of success.

He cited the implementation of the Capitation Grant as example, saying that a lot of parents who hitherto could not afford to send their children to school were now able to do so, hence the increase in school enrolments.

Mr Mahama said through the Capitation Grant the government would be able to produce more quality human resource for development, which would also enhance the economic well being of the people. He mentioned the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as one of the remarkable achievements of the government. Mr Mahama cited improvements in the roads sector as another remarkable achievement by the government, saying that goods from the hinterland could now be carted to market centres. He cautioned party members and supporters not to be complacent but to work harder by explaining the good policies of the government to the rank and file in order to win more people to the party. Asked why the party could not win more seats in the Region during the last election, the Organiser attributed it to "certain external and internal factors" at that time.

He explained that strategic measures had been put in place to capture more seats for the party in the region come 2008. 28 Feb 06