IN HIS attempt to woo industrialists to give credence to his promise that his presidency would support Private Sector Development to help provide jobs for the masses, Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum, the presidential candidate of Convention People's Party (CPP), has taken his campaign message to the doorsteps of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

At a meeting with the board members of the AGI last week Friday, Ndoum was quizzed by the members about his pledge to help use the state to boast the private sector and also his views on the proposed sale of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

In his response, Dr. Ndoum known for his open-minded and brief but concise answers stated categorically that he would not support any move to sell the ADB.

He pointed out that if the staff were not able to perform, it did not mean that the bank must be sold to foreigners against the interest of Ghanaians." I am against the privatization of ADB. I have worked at the ADB before as their consultant and I know that Ghanaians have tried their best. We should not reward them with the move to sell the bank. If we need the technical men, we can buy them,' he explained.

Nduom noted that under no circumstances should ADB be sold. He also dismissed suggestions that the government was under pressure from the World Bank to sell the agric bank. Dr. Ndoum, who was accompanied by the national chairman and the leader of the CPP, Mr. Ladi Nylander, Mr. Mike Eghan, the national treasurer, Mrs. Susan Adu Amankwa, the greater Accra Regional chairperson, Mr. Felix Amoah, his campaign chairman, Mr. Richmond Keelson, Communications Director for Ndoum for president, said Ghanaian indigenous companies must be protected to help bring jobs to the people in the country.

He reiterated that under his presidency the private sector would get direct support from the state to grow and create more jobs and give a living wages and salaries to Ghanaians.

"Ghanaians can conquer poverty. This nation can become a prosperous in our lifetime. According to Nduom the private sector could make an important contribution to the wealth of the nation by becoming competitive and highly productive. This, I will make sure happens as the next president of the Republic of Ghana,' he said.

According to the CPP presidential candidate he would put the Ghanaian at the center of opportunity in the private and public sectors saying, "The Convention Peoples' Party (CPP) believes that the state matters and that the state has an important role to play in the economy."

He said the CPP believed that it was the responsibility of government to prepare its people and give them the necessary opportunities to overcome inexperience and lack of capital.

Dr. Ndoum said given the opportunity to lead the nation after President Kufuor, he would implement a consistent and aggressive government policy to support industries owned by Ghanaians throughout the country to provide sustainable jobs and living wages and salaries.

"The support will come in the form of low-interest, government loans and guarantees, technical support to ensure ability to achieve sustained growth, tax incentives and market advantages. My goal will be to ensure that Ghanaian companies grow big to compete with foreign imports and strengthened to compete in international markets.'

He stated that no country had really developed on the back of exporting raw materials to feed factories abroad adding that the domestic industries are needed to break poverty because they would provide sustainable jobs and living wages and salaries.

To Dr. Ndoum, "The purchasing power of the state, can and will be used to ensure that we maximize the potentials of local industries in all areas such as agriculture, technology, consumer goods etc,' he said.

The CPP Presidential candidate who until recently was the minister of Public Sector Reforms under President Kufuor's government, urged the private sector to look forward with all confidence and assurance that under him all would be well.

"We have an enduring CPP tradition of job creation. We are prepared to use appropriately the private sector, cooperatives, joint ventures with foreign investors and strategic state participation to bring work and happiness to our people at home.'

Dr. Ndoum was able to beat the plans of AGI to host all the presidential aspirants of various political parties to discuss with them their plans towards the Private sector.

But notwithstanding, he has pledged his commitment to discuss with them his plans, which he believed would not be a mere talk.

The President of the Association, Mr. Oteng Gyasi was grateful for Ndoum's move and stated that the AGI would soon come out with their documents, which would be discussed and signed by the presidential hopeful.

Dr. Ndoum later paid a visit to the Chronicle with his team and commended the paper for its watchdog role.