Koforidua, Aug. 14, GNA-A National Democratic Congress (NDC) aspiring flag-bearer, Mr Eddie Annan, has stated that the NDC would win the 2008 elections because President John Agyekum Kufour's government had not been able to take care of the welfare of Ghanaians as expected. He gave the assurance that, even if he was not elected as the Presidential candidate of the NDC, he would continue to stay in the party and play the role expected of him to ensure that the party's candidate leads the party to victory.

Mr. Annan was reacting to questions from media practitioners at Koforidua on Monday, after meeting the Eastern Regional Executive of the NDC to introduce himself to them as a prelude to his regional tour of the region.

He said with the country's abundant human and natural resources, the country needed a leadership with the requisite knowledge of the terrain and a tough negotiator who could convince investors to establish factories in Ghana to process raw materials for and to create jobs and wealth.

According to Mr. Annan, with his over 30-year experience as an entrepreneur, he had that capacity to attract foreign investors into the country to "deliver economic freedom to Ghanaians".

On the handling of the spiralling petroleum prices on the country, he said, if the Kufuor administration had the welfare of the people at heart, it could have reduced the taxes on petroleum products and make them cheaper than the current prices in the face of increases in world market price.

Mr Annan said the government could make up for the fall in revenue on petroleum products through the income taxes on employees and the companies.

According to him, the NDC used its first eight years in power to create the necessary infrastructure for economic take-off by the country such as extending electricity, water and good roads to the districts and many rural areas of the country.

Mr. Annan said the current government had not been able to take advantage of the economic foundation laid by the NDC government to reap the required benefits for the country because "it lacks the required capacity to do so."

He gave the assurance that, when given the mandate to become the President of the country, he would pursue policies that would ensure true economic freedom for the country.