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The 2012 Presidential candidate of the United Front Party (UFP) says Ghana is at the verge of �economic despondency� if government does not become innovative in her approach to building a fortified economy. Akwasi Addai Odike, popularly called Odike, expressed disappointment in the way the economy is run and called on government to change tactics in order to boost the economy. According to him, Ghanaians are saddled with challenges which should be a matter of concern to the government. The government, he said, should ensure cohesion in the nation. He also emphasized the need for government to adopt innovative ideas to enhance the progress of the nation. To him, Ghana should be a high export earner by building interest in the production of local goods. Odike in an interview with Peacefmonline.com Monday morning lamented the current state of the economy under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC. �Our economy is not doing well�We are suffering. Ghanaians are suffering and the reason being that we are not producing. We are not exporting. We are not bringing innovations that will turn the fortunes of this nation around. So, unemployment rate is high,� he noted. He believed the nation is paying a price for the blunders of governments in addressing the exact challenges confronting the Ghanaian citizenry, and outlined his vision, saying Ghana can develop if the government engages the nation in a �transfer of technology.� This he explained is ensuring that government establishes several industries across the nation in order to create more jobs for the citizens. Speaking in relation to the brouhaha about government doling out an amount of money to some Pastors in the nation to embark on a pilgrimage to Israel, he expounded that there is nothing wrong with government facilitating the pilgrimage of 200 Pastors, but hoped the monies involved do not emanate from the purse of the government. He however appealed to government to address pertinent issues bothering Ghanaians. The UFP Flagbearer was optimistic of the future of the economy but made demands on government stating that; �We need to bring in innovations. We need to change the way we do things. The seat of the government name does not any impact on the ordinary people. All that we need is a government who can do things that will promote peace; that will bring a lot of national cohesion. A government that will make sure our needs are being taken care of.�