Mac Manu warns NPP presidential aspirants

Accra, July 25, GNA - Mr. Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Wednesday warned the party's 17 presidential aspirants to show maturity in their bid to win the party's presidential slot for the 2008 elections.

"I would like to caution all the would-be aspirants who are testing their popularity with party members around the country to observe strict decorum in their language and behaviour," he said. Mr. Manu gave the warning at a press launch of activities to mark the 15th Anniversary of the party, which falls on July 28, 2007. The theme for the eight-day celebration is "NPP :Our roots, our strength."

He regretted that detractors of the party had cited the numerous presidential aspirants as a reason for a possible split in the party in 2008, and said there would be no split provided the aspirants stayed away from attacking each other and exercised strict civility in their campaigns.

"This is an internal contest and should not be allowed to get out of hand," Mr Manu told the aspirants, two of whom, namely Professor Kwabena Frimpong- Boateng and Mr Hackman Owusu Agyemang, were present at the function.

Mr Manu said the national executive had completed updating the party's code of conduct for aspirants and would be out-doored after approval by the National Council next week.

He said he was confident that the code of conduct should guide the aspirants to carry out their campaign with civility, adding that the national executive had not had any disturbing signals from any aspirant yet.

The NPP Chairman noted that the theme for the celebration was in recognition of the sacrifices and passion of the founding fathers and foot soldiers to the party's survival, sustainability and achievements over the past 15 years.

He said the party had been largely anchored on its liberal democratic ideology from its forefathers and on the backs of the foot soldiers across the rank and file of the country.

Mr Manu gave the assurance that in recognition of the sacrifices made by members over the years, his administration would continue to be vigilant during elections to ensure that the party retained power in 2008.

Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary, said activities for the celebration included Moslem and Christian thanksgiving services, clean up exercises, rallies, keep fit programmes, seminars and a mammoth rally at Tema Community one on August 4, 2007.

Others were a National Council meeting to decide on the modalities for the party's national congress, a founders and patrons forum and the official commissioning of the national headquarters building. 25 July 07