NDC to win election on issues - Ofosu Ampofo

Accra, Jan. 12,GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Thursday said the Party was poised to use concepts and issues to win Election 2008 since the ruling Government had given variables to the electorate to choose from.

He said Ghanaians gave the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government an additional four-year term because they had complained that the first four-year term was too short to measure its achievement with what the NDC achieved in its eight years' rule.

Mr Ampofo, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency after the new Executive of the NDC held its maiden press conference in Accra, said with the eight-year rule of the NPP the electorate would have the basis to decide on who and what to vote for.

He said it was left to the electorate to decide whether to vote for the eradication of guinea worm infestations, the building of hostels for the universities, paying the cocoa farmer promptly and adequately or the building a presidential palace.

Mr Ampofo admitted that the NDC must be seen to be conciliatory and that the new Executive should put up an early warning intelligence mechanism to be proactive instead of being overtaken by sudden events such as the one that had occurred after the recent Koforidua Congress when the Party was hit with resignations of some of its former officers. He said that no one could deny the fact that in political party pluralism numbers counted and it was unfortunate the Party was faced with the resignations and that those leaving the Party might have been acting on impulse because they might have been hurt and that with time and the right approach reconciliation could be restored.

He pledged to work hard in his capacity as an organizer to intensify massive mobilization drive to gain more support for the Party mindful of the fact that the NDC had lost two major elections but that the current events in the country could serve as an eye-opener to even the cynics.

Mr Ampofo said the Party would liaise with all the regional branches to put in place an early warning system that would gather intelligence to deal with any threat of resignation. "I have personally planned to contact those who have resigned, talk to them, and see how best we can resolve issues to get them back on board", he said.

Mr Ampofo said since this was the first time the NDC had witnessed such a mass exodus from the Party, it was time that members were enlightened to consider the overall interests of the Party as supreme. He said the Party would also use the media to appeal to the conscience of all Ghanaians and called for the support of all NDC supporters to realise its objectives.