KUFUOR COMMENDED FOR ROLE IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 17, JAN 27)

THE former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Ms Josephine Hilda Addo, has congratulated former President John Agyekum Kufuor on the tremendous strides he made to make his presidency an enviable one, not only in Ghana but on the continent as a whole.
She said Ghanaians must be proud of the Kufuor administration and for leading the nation to chalk up socio-economic progress and added that he also performed his international duties with excellence.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Kumasi, Ms Addo, who was the first MP for Kwadaso, said having served his nation very well, Mr Kufuor should be lauded rather than be criticised unjustifiably.
"We have to put our parochial political differences aside and look at the issues that would bring honour to our past leaders," she said.
She pointed out the numerous development projects that were undertaken during the eight years of the Kufuor administration and said "this is a challenge to all governments after former President Kufuor's government to work hard to improve the lots of the Ghanaian".
Ms Addo further noted the humility of Mr Kufuor during his tenure and said this should be emulated by all other presidents after him.
She said on the international scene, the former President was highly respected because of the immense role he played in advancing the activities of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The former MP expressed the hope that even on retirement, the former President would have time to play other important roles in national development.
On her political future, Ms Addo, who served on the ECOWAS Parliament, said she was taking a critical look at the past, but expressed the hope that she would bounce back with the NPP.
"The people of Kwadaso still love me and at the right time this would be laid bare," she said.
Ms Addo lost to current MP for Kwadaso, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, in the party's primary. She was very instrumental in the number of development projects Kwadaso witnessed in the last administration.
Significantly, she continued to fund a school project in the constituency even after she lost her bid to become the party's parliamentary candidate for the 2008 elections.