The Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a caveat for all feuding factions in the grouping to close their ranks in the larger interest of the party.

At a meeting of the Council held on Thursday, they called for “a total ceasefire at all levels of the party with immediate effect.”

They expressed deep concern about the pronouncements by some leading members of the party, regarding the impending elections for the position of national executives.

A statement issued and signed by Dr Adjei Bawuah, a member of the Council of Elders, asked that all candidates, their supporters and sympathizers refrain from using impolitic and intemperate language.

Even though the statement fell short of mentioning names of individuals and groups of persons who might be engaging in such acts, it noted, “the National Council of Elders has invited some members for a meeting early next week, to assist the body to iron out whatever rough edges that might have arisen, in the run-up to the party’s national elections.”

Sources at the party’s Asylum Down headquarters, however, hinted that those invited to meet the body included NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin-Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who had been leading a campaign against the re-election of current executives of the party.

Mr Agyapong, who had sworn not to honour any invitation extended to him by the party, was expected to meet the Elders sometime in the coming week.

For now, it is not clear if he would eat his words and honour the invitation or call their bluff.

Ken had been engaged in a fierce media war with a certain Brian Acheampong, Chief of Staff of the National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, over some alleged stolen bikes originally meant for the 2012 elections campaign.

DAILY GUIDE sources said Brian was invited and indeed met the Council of Elders last two weeks over the same issue.

In the light of this, the Elders directed all party members to use the party’s internal structures to resolve any issues, with a warning in tow that “any party member who goes public on internal party matters shall be summoned before the disciplinary committee of the party.”

The Council asked that “all must adhere to grievance procedures within the party, seeking to bring to an end the hostilities (friendly fire) in the party.

“The Council further urged candidates not to lose sight of the bigger picture before the Party, which is to present a strong and united front, to effectively battle the NDC, come 2016,” it emphasised.

The body assured the rank and file of the party that “it takes decorum within the party seriously, and will do everything within its power, as mandated by the party’s constitution, to protect the unity and integrity of the party” at all times.