NDC Group Call On Executives To Retain Current Party Status Quo

On the matter of the proposal espoused by the National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress, to be adopted by the party in respect of the attempt to consciously expand the electoral college of the party, the Greater Accra Constituency Secretaries Forum(GACSEF), whilst associating with the noble intent intended to make the party much more accessible to the grass root, enhance the sense of ownership and allow for wider participation of party faithful, is calling for caution and circumspection, in its implementation.

It would be recalled that all constituencies across the country received proposals in August from the National Executive Committee which among other things was to consider an increase of the branch electoral roll from four(4) to nine(9) and to allow them an opportunity to vote to select constituency, regional, and national party officers as well as candidates for general elections (parliamentary and presidential) or an option to allow all registered card bearing party members to participate in the decision-making of the party even with the selecting of a flag-bearer.

We think this is what has to happen in the party whose philosophy is Social Democracy that believes in the equality and the egalitarian treatment of all persons irrespective of their Social, Cultural, Educational, Political, Religious and Economic status.

The Secretaries Forum advisedly would urge the National Executive Committee to let the party adhere to the current status quo of selecting party officers from the branches through to the National Executive Committee and defer the proposals to congress for adoption and the implementation subsequently. This we believe will make room for time and the financial challenges which we have identified as impediments to the smooth and coherent implementation of these proposals.

I. Timing is of the essence in this regard as the party is obliged by the NDC constitution article 16(1) to hold constituency and other party office holders� elections within twelve (12) months after every general election to elect party officers.

We are of the opinion that at the current rate of party activities, this dates may not be adhered to and thus urge the National Executive Committee to relook at the programme of the party, to forestall any constitutional crisis.

ii. Economically, the proposal which also suggests the biometric registration of party people, would require a huge financial out lay, procurement of machines, training of personnel, mobilization and publicity etc and this we don�t see can be done efficiently in the limited time at our disposal now.

SIGNED SIGNED
Mohammed Suka Victor Quarshie

Contacts for comments:
Mohammed Suka 0244602180/0264602180

Isaac Lartey 0244652330

Baba Abdulai 0244745910

Victor Quarshie Adonoo 0243603147

Source: The Greater Accra Constituency Secretaries Forum