Asamoah Cautions NDC on Prez. Candidate Discussions

Dr. Obed Asamoah, Chairman of the NDC's National Re-organisation Committee, at the weekend cautioned against discussing the issue of who becomes the party's presidential

candidate for the 2004 general elections now to avoid any division within its ranks.

He said the party's focus at present should rather be on how to re-organise and get all structures of the party functional.

"We do not start re-organisation by putting forward issues that are divisive," Dr Asamoah told representatives of the various constituencies and organs of the National Democratic Congress in Ashanti at a meeting at Oyoko in the Sekyere East District on Sunday.

It formed part of the nation-wide tour by the committee to identify the cause of the NDC's election defeat in the December polls, strengthen its structures on the ground and fashion out strategies for the future.

Dr Asamoah repeated that politics is about numbers and for that matter as the party strives to reach out to those outside it, everything should be done to "hold on to those we have".

This, he observed, could be achieved by shelving issues that could potentially divide members of the party and put off others wishing to join hands with them.

He told the rank and file not to allow the party to be "hijacked by opportunists" but insist that the NDC at all levels is led by dedicated and sincere people.

Dr Asamoah was hopeful that, by doing away with in-fighting and arrogance, the NDC stood a better chance of re-capturing power in the next elections.

Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, a member of the committee, told members of the party to go back to reconcile their differences and criticised the situation where some of them go behind their own elected executives.

He noted that "suspicion is the poison of friendship" and called for strict enforcement of discipline in the party.

Dr Tony Aidoo, a leading member of the NDC, bemoaned the lack of unity, trust and love within the party, saying this was unhealthy.

Earlier, in a welcoming address, Mr Nti Fordjour, the Ashanti Regional Vice-chairman, asked the members to remain steadfast, dedicated and make the necessary sacrifices to help win back power in 2004.