PNC launches manifesto tomorrow

Page 17, July 11, 2008
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

The PNC would be the first political party in the country to outdoor its manifesto, an activity that is slated for tomorrow.
The party’s flag bearer, Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, will launch the 58-page manifesto at a rally in Tamale.
It is expected that the launching of the manifesto would put the PNC in a new phase of the party’s campaign to clinch victory, come December, 2008 to enable it implement its plans to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
The party's launch has the theme; "Economic Prosperity Now, Youth Empowerment and Economic Independence Sooner,"
According to Dr Mahama, "We have earmarked how each regional capital should be rejuvenated so as to raise the standard of living of people in the rural areas".
He said towns such Nyinahin, Ejura-Attebubu corridor, Yeji, Buipe, Aflao and Bawku with various natural resources would be developed and made attractive to minimise the rural-urban drift.
Aspects of the manifesto with regard to urban renewal also seek to address the sanitation problems in Accra and Kumasi.
Another highlight of the manifesto is the creation of what is termed “the Golden Age of Productivity” which is aimed at providing support for industries and the agricultural sector.
According to Dr Mahama, a PNC administration under his leadership would allocate a portion of the national budget to set up a Research and Development (R&D) Fund to translate indigenous scientific research findings into commercial ventures that would further enhance the industrial capacity of the country.
At a recent interactive meeting organised by the Association of Ghana Industries, Dr Mahama mentioned inefficient and unreliable electric power and water supplies as the bane of the country’s economy.
Within the manifesto is also a plan to examine the current international agreements in the World Trade Organisation; ECOWAS; the Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and also look for innovative ways to strengthen Ghanaian industrialists in such arrangements.