NDC Warns Members

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned aggrieved party members to re-direct their actions from the courts of law to the internal structures of the party first or be subjected to the disciplinary action at the appropriate levels. According to the NEC, it notes with grave concern cases of distressed members of the party resorting to court actions or media publications without exhausting the internal grievance procedures of the party. This behaviour, according to the NEC, is clearly in contravention of article 40 section 3 of the NDC constitution. General-Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah issued the warning at a press conference at the party headquarters to present the decisions of the NEC regarding the up-coming national delegates� congress of the party. He noted that the party constitution has clearly spelt the procedures for conflict resolution, which is available to all members who for one reason or another have issues they want clarified and stressed that it is incumbent on members to exhaust these procedures before resorting to the law courts. Mr. Asiedu Nketiah revealed that NEC, at its sitting on 24th November, 2009 revised and approved the implementation of the timetable with respect to the national elections and that the National Youth Congress will take place at Sunyani in the Bong Ahafo Region on 8th and 9th January 2010; the National women�s Congress, Winneba on 8th and 9th January, 2010 and the National Delegates Congress at Tamale in the Northern Region from the 15th to the 17th of January 2010. He directed that all regional elections should be completed by 20th December, 2009 and that declaration of candidature and commencement of campaign is allowed with effect from 1st December 2009. He revealed that regional elections have been successfully conducted in the Upper East and Northern Regions, and that the Western Region will be holding their congress today Thursday, 26th November, 2009, with the Central, Upper West and Volta following within two weeks. Mr. Nketiah reminded defaulting constituencies of the provision of article 19 section 2 of the NDC constitution that regional party may hold their conferences so long as two thirds of the constituencies in the region have held their constituency conferences. �Chairmen of these constituencies are strongly urged to double their efforts to avoid their constituencies being disenfranchised at both the regional national elections,� he stated. NEC, he said also approved guidelines for the conduct of the national elections and these include the expansion of the Electoral College for the youth and women�s congress to include all constituency youth and women organizers and their deputies from 33 to approximately 500. Under the guidelines, Ministers of state, MPs, Ambassadors, DCEs and members of the Council of State, he said are ineligible to contest in the national elections. Aspirants, he said are required to pay non refundable fees for the following position: National Chairman GH�2,500, National Vice Chairman, GH�2,000; General-Secretary, GH�2,000; Deputy General Secretary, GH�1,500; National Organizer, GH�1,500; Propaganda Secretary GH�1,000; National Treasurer, GH�1,000, National Youth Organizer, GH�1,000; National Women�s Organizer, GH�1,000; 5 NEC members GH�500 and all other Deputy positions GH�500.