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The New Patriotic Party�s parliamentary candidate for the Odododidoo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region has said he would work to eradicate the extreme poverty of people living in the area. Captain (retd) Victor Okaikoi told a gathering at Zongo Lane, a suburb of Accra, during the launch of his campaign for the 2012 election that the economic potential of the constituency was yet to be utilised to its fullest potential. Capt Okaikoi, a 62-year-old retired member of the Ghana Armed Forces, said the area had not been adequately represented by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which had held the seat for the longest duration in the constituency�s history. Mr Okaikoi said if elected Member of Parliament for the area, he would ensure that the Makola and Salaga markets, both major trading centres in the constituency, were rebuilt to expand trading activities and create more avenues for many of the constituents, who were unemployed, to trade. According to him, it was also important for taxes to be reduced to ensure that those already in business at these markets earn more income. He attributed the area�s underdevelopment to the low level of education of residents, adding that the NPP�s policy of free education for all children up to senior high school level would adequately curtail the trend if the party is given the nod. �We have to make sure that people are empowered to build their own wealth and that is my objective. If I�m voted into office I will make sure that government reduces the cost of fishing gadgets to ensure that our fisher-folk, who are on a virtual holiday because of the rising cost of implements, get back to work�, he told the enthusiastic crowd. Capt Okaikoi was optimistic about winning the parliamentary seat even though the area is largely seen as stronghold of the ruling NDC. The immediate past Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Stanley Agyiri Blankson, said the �harsh� economic conditions created by the NDC government had worsened the economic plight of Ghanaians. He said prices of basic commodities had outrun income levels and expressed the fear that the situation would increase poverty levels if it is not checked. He urged Ghanaians to take the upcoming biometric voter registration exercise seriously. According to him, that was the only way one would be eligible to vote in December. He charged members of the NPP to ensure that the process was transparent as anything short of that could mar the 2012 polls. Mr Agyiri Blankson advised the party members to work hard to erase the mentality that the Ododiodoo Constituency was a no-go area for the NPP. According to him, the NDC had won the 2008 election on the grounds of negative propaganda and as result it was not going to win the December polls. An aspiring Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma South Constituency which is also in the Greater Accra Region, Mr Henry Quartey, said majority of Ghanaians were yearning for the NPP�s return to power. According to him, the NDC had failed to fulfill its promise of making Ghana a better place, and as a result broken its commitment to the people. He said the party�s flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, would ensure that living conditions were improved if he was voted for. The occasion was also used to inaugurate the Zongo Lane Rahidiya NPP Cell, which was charged to ensure that the NPP�s obtained maximum votes in the area. The Odododiodoo Constituency�s parliamentary seat is currently occupied by the NDC�s Jonathan Nii Tackey Commey who won it for the second time in 2008 by 34,812 votes, representing 56.1 per cent of votes cast, as against the NPP�s Mohamed Adjei Sowah who obtained 25,495, representing 41.1 per cent.