As the day draws nigh for NPP flag-bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to finally select his partner for the December elections, campaigners for Fisheries Minister, Hon. Gladys Asmah have urged him to look no further. Insisting that the Member of Parliament for Takoradi is the best cut for the highly contested Vice President slot of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), they cite her rich experience as the trump card she holds over all the contenders. Specifically referring to her strong political background, experience and successes, Mrs. Asmah's supporters, who see her as a doer, say they have absolute confidence in her capabilities. They opine that her strengths would become very handy, not only in providing valuable support to the flag-bearer when she is chosen as running mate, but that she would make it possible for the NPP to garner much needed votes in the upcoming elections. Mrs. Asmah's team make particular reference to her competence exhibited in Parliament since 1992, in the various Ministerial portfolios held as well as her exemplary leadership in various groups, both political and non-political. They also say their backing of the elderly stateswoman is further influenced by calls from various groups including the Ghana Union of Professional Students for a female vice president, adding that "Mrs. Asmah is matured enough to advise and assist Nana with the Presidency." A chip off the old block, the Takoradi MP, whose father, Nana Asiebu Amenfi, who together with J.B. Danquah from the United Party (UP) tradition were among a six-member advisory body put together by Governor Sir Arden Clarke for advise on national issues, was the only woman among 20 men who put together all the minority parties to form the All Peoples Party. Cataloguing her achievements in the political arena, Mrs. Gladys Asmah's supporters told the Ghanaian Observer that while her party NPP was in opposition, she won the Takoradi constituency with 76% of the total votes. "In Parliament she was the Deputy Minority Leader. From 1996 to 2000 she made it as her duty, alongside the campaign team and toured the whole country organising women in development and income generation activities which helped to bring about our electoral victory," they said. They added that at the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs which she began from the scratch, she was able to leave a legacy of "A Women's Development Fund, Gender and Children's Policy, Early Childhood Care Development Policy and a seven-year Action Plan for that Ministry." Among the laudable achievements of Mrs. Asmah enumerated by her team are a programme to bring trafficked Ghanaian children back home, the liberation of some Trokosi women from shrines and the assistance given to 12,000 women farmers to go into staple food production, processing and income generating activities in the northern parts of the country . Touching on her prowess at the Fisheries Ministry, they mentioned her promotion of acquaculture, which has increased the number of fish farmers from 1000 to 4000 since the creation of that Ministry. Among many others, they also spoke of an ongoing construction of six multi-purpose cold stores for fishermen and initiation of the construction of two fishing harbours and 14 landing sites in 16 communities due to commence in August this year. But to all that her campaigners have said to drum up support for her as Nana's running mate come December, Hon. Asmah said “Though I will not be contesting the parliamentary election, as the party's candidate, I will want to bring my experience in nationwide organisation of women's support gained prior to the 2000 elections and throughout my tenure as the Minister for Women and Children's Affairs to bear on the upcoming national electioneering campaign." "The party's primary objective I believe is to reach voters all over the country to ensure that our party's objective of winning at least sixty percent of the total votes is achieved," she added. Born on 16th October, 1936 in Cape Coast, Mrs. Gladys Asmah has since 1984, served on several boards. These include her alma matter Ghana National College, Ahantaman Secondary School, Fijai Secondary School, Women's Training Institute, the Ahantaman Rural Bank and the Regional Implementation Committee of Women in Development Loans. Further, Hon. Asmah, who is incidentally slated for two awards this week; the National Honours and Awards on Thursday as well as the President's Excellence Award for the Public Service instituted by the AU, has received several others since 2002, for her immense contributions in several endeavours. Source: The Ghanaian Observer