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General News of Thursday, 21 November 2002

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NDC launches card and calls on members to close ranks

The Greater Accra Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday launched a new membership card for the party and called on members to close their ranks to avoid infiltration from other political parties.

Launching the card at Kpone in the Greater Accra Region, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Organiser of the party said the differences among some members of the party in the flagbearership race, which is normal, was under control.

He assured them that the leadership of the party is capable to solve issues that go beyond bounds and, therefore, called for unity among the rank and file.

Mr Ampofo said the socio-economic atmosphere in the country was worsening with the assumption of the NPP, and that it has failed to turn the economy around.

Rather, the cost of basic necessities like water, electricity and fuel has now become unbearable for the ordinary Ghanaian.

The National Organiser said the previous NDC government achieved a lot in terms of infrastructure development and improved economic stability, yet the NPP government does not give credit to those good works, but rather portraying wrong impressions to the outside world.

While acknowledging that the NPP has achieved modest gains in the economy, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo criticised its way of governance saying, it lacked transparency in the implementation of policies and programmes.

Talking about the two presidential aspirants of the NDC, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said both Prof John Evans Atta Mills and Dr Kwesi Botchwey are credible people worthy to lead the party to victory and, therefore, he welcomes either of them.

He said the party would support and project the good image of the aspirants because any negative information would not be in the interest of the party.

Alhaji Baba Jamel, Deputy National Organiser, said the NDC was undergoing social democratic changes and urged members to remain united and fight for the ultimate goal of winning the elections.

According to him, the defeat of the NDC has rather strengthened the members and "also exposed the NPP of its bad and selfish intentions for the nation."

Madam Beatrice Naa Afieyie Ashong, MP for Kpone/Katamanso, said she had lined up projects to the undertaken for the constituency but the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) has consistently failed to release part of her share of the MPs Common Fund to execute the projects despite persistent demand.

In a welcoming address, Nii Otu Laryea Jnr, chairman of the constituency executives called for extra vigilance of the people to prevent any body who had not toiled with them to run as parliamentary candidate.

To this end, he entreated all the activists to own a membership card and educate other members on its importance.