The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the issue of copyright is alien to the party and has no foundation in any law that governs political parties.
According to the party�s General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the law on copyright did not extend to the establishment of political parties.
�Even if it exists, I do not see how a copyright registered in April 2010 can extend retroactively to cover things that were done in 1992,� he said.
Reacting to threats by a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, to place a ban on the use of the NDC�s umbrella logo if the leadership continued to disrespect the ideals of the party and her family, Mr Nketia said the NDC met all conditions provided by the Political Parties Law before it was accepted as a party by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Those conditions, he said, included party symbols, colours and a constitution which were met by the promoters of the NDC and, therefore, paved the way for the party�s registration on June 10, 1992, with the EC issuing a final certificate approving of the symbol and other requirements.
Following the registration, he said, the NDC had operated as a legal political party and participated in all elections using the umbrella symbol since 1992.
�If anybody has any issue about any symbol of any party that seems to be infringing her right, the place to go is the EC,� Mr Nketia explained.
Mrs Rawlings, in a letter written to the NDC Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, said she held the copyright to the logo, known as the �Akatamanso�, which is the NDC symbol.
The letter, signed by her counsel, Mr Stanley Ahorlu, said the logo was Mrs Rawlings�s intellectual property.
Mr Nketia, however, said the NDC had no cause to worry, saying the party might have had cause to worry if the EC was to have communicated any defect in the party�s registration to the party.
�Does it mean chiefs were not using umbrellas even before the formation of the NDC?� he queried.
While dismissing assertions that recent occurrences could have dire consequences on the party�s chances of retaining power, Mr Nketia called on NDC supporters to ignore the supposed claims and focus on the activities leading to the December elections.
He also dismissed media reports that the party held an emergency meeting Friday on the issue, saying, �The issue cannot be distractive enough to occasion an emergency meeting.�
�We are not a party that is made up of conformists, since we have emerged from a conformist into a fully fledged democratic party with space for people to freely express their opinions,� Mr Nketia said.
He said nevertheless, the National Executive Council would be informed of the letter at its next functional executive meeting slated for next Tuesday.
<<Print>>