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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday said statement by Dr Obed Asamaoh, founder of the Democratic Freedom Party( DFP), disputing the status of former President Jerry John Rawlings as the founder of the NDC could reverse the image-building efforts of the NDC leadership. The party said Dr Asamoah�s controversial pronouncement was �most disturbing, unfortunate and untimely� and projected a negative image of the NDC. A statement signed by Dr Kwabena Adjei, the NDC National Chairman and copied to the GNA in Accra on Sunday, said: �These statements are unwarranted because the status of the National Founder of the NDC has been quietly put behind the rank and file of the NDC�.It is, therefore, a non-issue in the internal political dynamics of the NDC. �The leadership of the party thinks that there are more strategic internal and external issues that currently confront the party, requiring our collective focus to ensure unity and survival in our great party than the pettiness and acrimony that characterize the futile dispute about the party�s National Founder and, for that matter, the founding of the NDC�. The statement noted that the National Executive Committee of the NDC had been working stealthily behind the scenes to build an image of the NDC as an internal democratic and tolerant party since the beginning of 2006 under very challenging circumstances. It said: �It is, therefore, most objectionable that these image-building efforts of the NDC leadership could simply be nullified or reversed with the simple issuance of a statement and comments attributed to Dr Asamoah. The statement said the most disturbing aspect of the current controversy generated by Dr Asamoah was its untimely dimension, given the fact that his DFP were seeking to return to the NDC It said, however, that the bid of Dr Asamoah and his DFP members to return to the NDC was a process currently under consideration. The statement said �That process has to be handled in a democratic manner, based on a route that originates from the location of the NDC Functional Executive Committee through the National Executive Committee to the National Congress. �It is, therefore, premature and completely unacceptable for a statement that touches the core of our internal party unity and peace to be made at this crucial time � one year to national elections � by Dr Asamoah, who is yet to undergo a litmus test for rejoining the NDC�. The statement said the NDC believed in the number game in politics and would genuinely and warmly welcome members from other political persuasions, �However, we cannot entertain those who will open old wounds and generate acrimony to endanger our unity, image, competiveness and survival�. It indicated that the NDC National Founder�s status and position constitute an institution provided for in the 1992 NDC Constitution, and that the party recognized and revered former President Rawlings as the National Founder of the NDC �in a true democratic sprit no matter what differences exist between him and other members of the party�.