NDC asked to make P.V. Obeng leader of NDC

A section of National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in Tamale are suggesting that Paul Victor Obeng, a member of the erstwhile Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), should be made to lead the party if it was to recapture power in the 2004 elections.

The group, led by Sumaila Joe-Mara, NDC Deputy Northern Regional Secretary, told the GNA in Tamale on Tuesday that "Mr Obeng does not belong to any of the NDC factions and he will, therefore, be in the position to unite the party."

He described Mr Obeng as a "charismatic person", who can help change the negative perception of the NDC in certain quarters.

Mr Joe-Mara said in choosing a flagbearer, several things have to be considered and these included the ethnic background of the candidate.

"Mr Obeng, being an Ashanti, would break the dominance of New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region and among Ashantis." Mr Joe-Mara further suggested that a Northern Muslim should be Mr Obeng's running mate.

He said the NPP made inroads in Northern Ghana because of its choice of a Northern Muslim as the running mate to President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Mr Joe-Mara said to ensure ethnic balance Dr Obed Asamoah should be made the chairman of the party. "Politics is about numbers and we must make the right choice to attract those numbers."