President To Meet 'Disappointed' MMDCES, MPs

President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday announced that he would soon organize a meeting with all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, and parliamentary candidates who lost their seats in the December 2012 elections to deliberate on the way forward. He said:"The fact that they were not re-appointed or re-elected in the case of Members of Parliament does not mean they are not useful. I know that they can serve our government in other capacities." President Mahama said this when he addressed party members at the Residency in Tamale as part of his one-day official visit there. President Mahama who earlier on attended the special congregation of the University for Development Studies where a doctorate degree was conferred on Former President Jerry John Rawlings said the meeting with the unsuccessful candidates would give them another opportunity to bring their experience to support in the development and growth of the party. He said apart from that the national executives of the National Democratic Congress would also carry out an outreach programme to hold meetings to explain government policies through seminars and other training programmes. The outreach programmes, President Mahama added, would also offer them the opportunity to develop their potentials. He said the party would also inject dynamism into the ranks by carrying out a national registration exercise to meet the 21st century demands of vibrant political parties. President Mahama said the party would also expand the electoral college that would be used for the election of both parliamentary and Presidential candidates towards the 2016 general election. He said the revision of the party structures was to enable it to convincingly win subsequent elections and repose confidence in the electorate. On party's "foot soldiers", President Mahama urged Ministers, DCEs and other leaders to treat them with the maximum respect as the the party would always need their services in every election. Mr Bede Ziedeng, Northern Regional Minister said the Region had for sometime now enjoyed maximum peace and called for unity amongst the people. He noted that all Municipal and District Chief Executives who were nominated had been confirmed except Kumbungu and Chereponi.