The Greater Accra Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have in unison stated that they know Joe Ghartey and are aware that he is a hardworking and competent man, and therefore wish him the best in his bid to contest the flagbearer position of the party.
Hon Joe Ghartey, Member of Parliament (MP) for Esslkado-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region and former Minister for Railways and Development met the Greater Accra Regional Executives in Accra on Thursday, 4 May, 2023.
Joe Ghartey told the gathering that he had come formally to inform them he was contesting to be flagbearer of the NPP. He told them that he had come to solicit their support.
The presidential aspirant presented a strong case for himself taking the regional executives through the work he had done as the Attorney-General, as Second Deputy Speaker and as Minister for Railways Development.
On law and order, he said a country which does not practice the rule of law cannot develop. Equality before the law, he said, was critical. Joe Ghartey stated that as Attorney General he not only believed in law and order but also practiced using the law as a tool for social and economic engineering.
He said he was of the firm view that being an experienced legislator and a former Deputy Speaker he was confident that he would as president develop a good working relationship with Parliament for the benefit of the country.
On railways development, he said he was glad he was given the opportunity to manage what is arguably the most difficult infrastructure sector to manage. Joe Ghartey explained that by January 2020, the passenger lines form Takoradi to Tarkwa and Accra to Tema were operational. He said their operations were closed due to COVID.
The restrictions did not allow for the trains to run at full passenger capacity and therefore operating the trains was not sustainable. In any event the decision had been taken to change all the old lines so it was decided that the service be halted.
Hon Ghartey said the development of the western line was ongoing and the Tema to Mpakadan line was almost complete. He said that railway development would be a key part of his development agenda when elected as President. Hon Joe Ghartey mentioned other sectors that would receive attention by his government which he said would be lean and efficient with a maximum of 60 Ministers.
Hon Joe Ghartey recounted his long association with NPP Greater Accra. He said he was so active that during the first term of Hon Jake Obetsibi Lamptey as Greater Accra Regional Chairman he was appointed Chairman of the Greater Accra Disciplinary Committee. Hon Joe Ghartey said from 1992 he had always worked tirelessly in the Greater Accra Region for the Party. Contributing resources at all levels and to several constituencies.
Ghartey told the meeting he was the best person to be flagbearer of the NPP and as President Ghana would prosper.
