NDC outlines intra-party electoral reforms

Ada Foah, Dec. 10, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had adopted swift electoral reforms to enhance transparency and boost the credibility of selection of its Presidential Candidate slated for December 21st in Accra.

'Against the backdrop of the kinds of allegations of irregularities and fraud made in connection with our recent congress, the party have introduced the reforms to ensure that every delegate has ID Card bearing his or her name, a unique number and photograph,' Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, NDC National Organiser stated at Ada on Saturday.

Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo told newsmen at the end of three-day capacity building workshop on: "Experience Sharing Session In Conflict Transformation," organised by the National Peace Council (NPC) with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National and regional executives at Ada Foah near Accra.

Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said the compilation of a credible Delegates Register is paramount for the success of the election and also forestall the allegation, suspicion or fear of non-delegates sneaking in to vote. He said as part of the reforms candidates or their accredited representatives would ballot for positions on the ballot papers on Tuesday December 12 at the Party Headquarters, which would be supervised by the Electoral Commission.

The order in which the candidates would be arranged on the ballot papers would be determined by the order in which the aspirants picked their position during the balloting, he said.

He said in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Affairs, the party is organizing, "NDC Presidential Aspirants Forum," on December 12 to serve as a platform for the candidates to engage in intellectual debate on their vision for the party, the Nation, West Africa and the International Community.

This is internal political think-tank debate to sharpen and expose the intellectual capabilities as well as other qualities and potential of Ghana's next President, who is definitely going to emerge from the four accomplished Presidential Aspirants of the NDC. To demonstrate party cohesion among the four aspirants and their supporters, a mammoth rally would be held at Manste Agbonaa also on Tuesday December 12, where the candidates would be officially introduced to Ghanaians.

All the candidates would also have the opportunity to address the delegates, party members and the Nation on their visions. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the NDC sees the Delegates Congress as an opportunity and a challenge to strengthen and deepen internal democracy as well as to nurture the bond of unity that had made it a unique political organisation in order to forestall any internal bickering that is likely to destroy and distract it from its noble goals. Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia NDC General Secretary noted that Ghana stands at a threshold of making another leap forward in its efforts to entrench multi-party democracy in the country which seeks to serve as a model for other African countries.

In 2000, NDC managed peaceful elections and gracefully handed over power to an opposition political party that won the elections and national governance changed from the ruling NDC to the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party.

The world applauded Ghana's achievement and in 2008, Ghanaians would again be faced with another challenge of deepening democracy in Africa, "as we are again going to change the mantel of leadership from the ruling party to the main opposition party.'

"The world would be watching how a political party, which afore time had been in opposition would peacefully hand over political power again to its predecessor, the NDC," he said.

He said for the NDC in opposition, Elections 2008 and the transition to power in 2009 offers the challenge of preparing adequately to receive the mantel of leadership to restore the shattered economy and re-establish the dignity and hope of Ghanaians.

Elections 2008 offers the NPP two great challenges, how to prepare to go back to opposition where they actually belong and to condition their mind set on how to hand over power peacefully to NDC, come 2009. Mr. Asiedu-Nketia said the NDC is ready to assume the mantle and urged the NPP to get ready to exhibit good sportsmanship and start working on their handover notes.

He commended the NPC for the workshop which, seeks to strengthen the capacities and competencies of the party to facilitate the timely and non-violence resolution of conflicts.

It also seeks to ensure that the internal party progressions for the contestation and attainment of flagbearship are dynamic, nevertheless non-violent, to strengthen NDC's political movement to deepen the country's democratic tradition.