NDC Holds National Congress on December 10

Accra (Greater Accra Region), 13, November, 1998 -- The national delegates congress of the NDC will be held in Sekondi-Takoradi from the 10th to the 12th of next month. The theme for the Congress will be: "Unity and Renewal for the year 2000 and beyond".

There will be working committee sessions on the re-organisation of the Party, as well as implementation of the party's national economic programme and some amendments to the party's constitution.

A statement signed by the General Secretary of the party; Alhaji Huudu Yahaya in Accra yesterday, said the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC will announce arrangements and procedures for the filing of nominations for National Executive positions of the Party next week.

These include the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Deputy General- Secretary, National Organiser, Deputy National Organiser, National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.

It reiterated the decision of the NEC to discourage the practice where persons holding executive positions at the national headquaters or are government functionaries also contest executive positions at the National Regional, and Constituency levels.

Persons holding Ministerial appointments, MPS and District Chief Executives as well as others holding dual positions in the party at various levels are therefore to desist from contesting the aforementioned positions.

The statement said the directive is influenced by the desire to recruit more potential activists into the executive positions for effective and efficient party organisation and full discharge of functional responsibilies.

It added that at a meeting with the leader of the party, President Rawlings, it was decided to institute investigations into allegations of non-performance and unsatisfactory execution of contracts awarded to the Eastern Regional Chairman of the Party.

The NEC is also to review the circumstances leading to the election of James Baffour, as Chairman of the New Juaben Constiuency despite a letter from the National Secretariat advising the Eastern Regional Executive Committee to restrain him from contesting in view of his trial at a Public Tribunal on charges of issuing bounced cheques.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Party is to act on cases of indiscipline and breaches of the Party's Constitution reported against the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman and others following the submission of a report on allegations of misappropriation of funds.

The former Ashanti Regional Treasurer and two other suspended members of the NDC in the Region are also to be investigated for breaching the party 's constitution.

The statement said on the directive of President Rawlings, the Serious Fraud Office will be invited to assist in the investigations where necessary.