Accra, Feb.24, GNA-Mr. Peter MacManu, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Tuesday advised delegates to the party's upcoming national congress to elect hardworking and effective executives whose deeds reflect core party aims and objectives.

"Although all of them are qualified for the positions they are yearning to occupy, we need committed and hardworking executives who would be able to win back power for the party in 2012, so that the party can continue with its vision to change the livelihoods of Ghanaians for the better." He said. Speaking to GNA, Mr. Mac Manu said this should be the supreme interest of every delegate who would be voting at the congress on Saturday. He said the party had done its own critique on why it lost the 2008 elections and would welcome suggestions that would help the party to recapture power in 2012.

Mr. Mac Manu defended the decision to ban the display of logos and T-shirts of the 2 two frontrunners for the party's flagbearer position during the run up to the last elections.

"The contestants themselves do not want the display of such paraphernalia so it is not like the party has imposed the decision on them, they are ready to engage in a peaceful contest which would be devoid of divisive tendencies",he added.

According to Mr. Mac Manu," this would be a novelty conference since the party has expanded its electoral college to about 4,600 delegates but we do not feel challenged in holding peaceful elections since we are the pacesetters"

Mr. Mac Manu described the late B.J. Da Rocha, Former First National Chairman of the NPP, as a father who contributed significantly towards the formation of the party.

The NPP is scheduled to hold its National Delegates Congress at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi this week end.

About 4,500 delegates across the country are expected to arrive in the city to participate in the two-day congress, which will elect national officers to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years. About thirty-four candidates have so far filed their nominations to contest for eight positions at the congress. The positions include the Chairman, first and second Vice Chairmen, General Secretary, Organizer, Youth Organizer, Women's Organizer and Treasurer.

Among the various personalities contesting for the positions are the former Minister of Tourism, Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, a former first National Vice Chairman, Mr. Stephen Ntim, Dr. Charles Wereko Brobbey, a former presidential candidate of the defunct United Ghana Movement (UGM)and Ex- Chief Executive Officer of Ghana@50 Secretariat, Mr. Felix Owusu Adjepong, ex-Majority Leader and Mr. Sammy Crabbe, the former Greater Accra Regional chairman who will be contesting for the national chairmanship position.

The General Secretary position is being contested for by a Kumasi-based legal practitioner, Mr. Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John;Mr. Yaw Buabeng, a former aide to the Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; former Member of Parliament for Berekum, Captain(rtd) Nkrabeah Effah Dartey; Mr. Obeng Busia and the incumbent general secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow. The National Youth Organizer position would be contested for by a leading member of the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), Mr. Anthony Abayefa Karbo and a youth activist of the party, Mr. Stephen Amoah, while that of the Women's Organizer would be fought for by the incumbent Madam Elizabeth Asobayire, former Member of Parliament for Cape Coast, Mrs. Christine Churcher and the party's former parliamentary candidate for Bole Bamboi, Mrs. Otiko Djaba Afisah. 24 Feb. 10