Accra, June 10, GNA - The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday condemned destabilising acts against President John Evans Atta Mills by individuals with the objective of furthering the presidential ambitions of some personalities within the party.

"The modus operandi of these potential aspirants has been the promotion and support of mushroom organisations within the party to begin and intensify agitations based on genuine challenges the leadership is trying to address," Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary of the party stated at a press conference in Accra.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah flanked by Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, a National Vice Chairperson, Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, National Organiser, Mr Kobina Ade-Coker, Greater Accra Regional Chairman and other leading members was launching the party's 18th Anniversary Celebration.

He said the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the party took serious view of these developments and reminded all concerned that the first commitment of an NDC member was to accept the constitution, aims, objectives, policies and programmes of the party.

The NDC General Secretary reminded the presidential aspirants that Article 42 and 43 of the party's Constitution mandated the National Executive Committee to issue guidelines before the conduct of any parliamentary and presidential primaries.

"While FEC re-affirms the rights of every member of NDC to aspire to any position within the party and the country at large, FEC also wish to maintain that these rights must be exercised within the confines of NDC Constitution and the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana," he stated. Mr Asiedu Nketiah reminded the aspiring flagbearers of the party that: "Ghanaians would judge their promises of upholding and defending the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana by what they do with their own party's Constitution".

He cautioned the aspirants that "as non-incumbent contestants, they are most vulnerable to the abuse of incumbency and would eventually need a strong, firm and unbiased National Executive backed by a strong party Constitution to protect them from such potential abuses in order to create an even playing field for any such contestants".

The NDC General Secretary condemned some government appointees, including District Chief Executives and Ministers of State, who had also started schemes to undermine sitting NDC Members of Parliament with the hope of replacing them in the next elections.

"The NDC, a social democratic political party, was founded by Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, who was Head of State of Ghana from 1981 to 1993 and the President from 1993 to 2001," Mr Asiedu Nketiah stated. 10 June 10