NDC Zongo Caucus strategies for Elections 2012

Accra, May 7, GNA - The ruling National Democratic Congress' (NDC) efforts to retain power in Election 2012 gain impetus as the Zongo Caucus, key strategic Constituency in the country map-out schemes to expand and solidify its dominance in the Moslem Communities nationwide. The scheme includes educational campaign to plug all loopholes for rigging and cheating at the polling stations level, empowerment of women and youth from the Zongo communities, and special means to make the NDC attractive especially within the Moslem Communities.

Addressing the Zongo Caucus Women's Wing in Accra on Friday, Mahmend Yusif Captain, National Coordinator of the Zongo Caucus, said the strategy was indicative of the seriousness attached to Election 2012. "The NDC is growing with confidence and will work hard even in government to increase its electoral margin in both the parliamentary and presidential elections...we will expand our frontiers within the Zongo Communities.

"Solidify our front against infiltrators and expose the anti-NDC propaganda of our opponents to discredit the ruling party for electoral gains," Mahamend Captain stated.

He said NDC Zongo Caucus would not allow the opposition parties especially the New Patriotic Party to dictate the pace of political campaigns this time...therefore, the Zongo Caucus will tailor its campaign to set the agenda, intensify door to door, house to house and village to village campaigns.

He said the leadership of the party was not crumbling, as some people would like to believe. "The NDC is still bound together by the same principles and policies, since 1992".

Mahamend Captain, who is also the NDC Greater Accra Regional Vice Chairman, cautioned detractors to "put off fires at their own backyards instead of moving around in an attempt to set fires in other peoples peaceful communities".

Hajia Amina Seidu, National Women Organizer of the Zongo Caucus, restated that the NDC remains a true national party that would continue to use collective efforts to develop the country. The NDC, she said, stands for hard work, unity and stability, and urged its members to be alert to acts by detractors to sow seeds of disunity among them.

Hajia Seidu assured women and the youth that the ruling party would continue to tap the experience of every Ghanaian, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences, in the country's development process. "NDC is for everybody, the common man, and there is nothing like a big man or a small man when it comes to working together for a common purpose." She urged the people, especially NDC members to inculcate the spirit of hard work, nationalism in the new members, adding "we should all have the burning desire to move the country forward."

Hajia Seidu said NDC is the only force to reckon with and urged members to work hard to enable it achieve success again in the next elections, stressing "the party's doors are open to all disenchanted opposition members, as well as floating voters.

"There is need to reach out to all of them with the message of togetherness, unity and peace for a common purpose." Alhaji Alhasan Bene, National Secretary of the Zongo Caucus, emphasised that the ruling party's main concern now is to develop the potentials of the country and not any particular interests.

He said the caucus would soon initiate nationwide organisation, leading to a national delegate conference by the end of the year, and challenged its members to start mass mobilisation across the country. Alhaji Bene advised Moslem youth against act of hooliganism and other unproductive ventures, "our youth should direct their energies towards the development of the north".

He also called for total support for President John Evans Atta Mills and Vice President John Dramani Mahama as they work towards a better Ghana agenda. 7 May 10