UPP launches manifesto, names running mate
The United Progressive Party (UPP) last Monday launched its manifesto aimed at restructuring the economy of the country to create the necessary job and wealth for the people.
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Scheduled to start at 10 a.m, the programme eventually started around 12 noon after two hours of waiting for party members and invited guests to come in.
Even at 12noon when the programme started, the Golden Tulip Hall in Kumasi, which served as the venue for the programme, was not one-fourth filled and there were more executive members than the shopfloor members.
It took the pleadings of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Crosby Armah, who acted as the MC, to get those present, including the media, to leave where they were sitting to fill the empty seats on the front rows.
However, getting to the end of the launch, few members came in and occupied some of the vacant seats in the hall.
Third party to launch manifesto
The UPP becomes the third out of the 26 political parties so far certified by the Electoral Commission to launch its manifesto.
The Independent People’s Party (IPP) was the first to launch its manifesto in June this year and was followed by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) early this month during the presentation of its presidential candidate.
Most of the political parties, especially the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), are being elusive with their manifestos and unwilling to come out with theirs.
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10-year development plan
The manifesto launch was on the theme, “10 years’ Development Plan-An era of job and wealth creation.”
The flag bearer of the party, Mr Kwasi Addai, popularly known as Odike, said the party would back the manifesto with a law to make it binding on the party to implement it.
He said because manifestos were not binding on political parties, “politicians just make vain promises and when voted into pwoer, they refuse to go by their campaign promises.
“But the UPP will pass a law that will make the manifesto binding on us to ensure that all the plans in it are implemented. That is why we decided to call it a development plan and not a manifesto,” he said.
Private sector
According to the businessman presidential aspirant, his presidency would be private sector-led whereby the government would empower the private sector to create an enabling environment for it to operate freely and without any hindrance.
He said it was time Ghana added value to its raw materials rather than exporting them and later importing finished products at a high cost.
That, he said, would be a thing of the past during his administration and was hopeful that Ghanaians would give him the power to put into practice all his good plans.
“Even in the midst of plenty, we are still hungry because of leadership paralysis,” he said.
Shoe village
Odike, who deals in shoes and clothing, said Ghanaian shoemakers are among the best in the world and could easily match the Italians, Polish and Germans at the international level.