Mills: NDC stands at crossroad

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, former Vice President, on Friday filed his nominations papers to contest for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearership and declared that the party stands at the crossroad.

"Behind us are many years of struggle, achievement and uncompleted projects under our previous administration. Before us is the promise of a better tomorrow, after 2004 when the NDC shall come back to power.

"In between, is a congress at which delegates must make a choice to assure this party of that victory which we all yearn for," Prof. Mills stated at the party's Headquarters during the ceremony.

The NDC at its fifth National Delegates' Congress last April amended its constitutional provision on the selection of parliamentary and presidential candidates.

The nominations which were open on 23 September closes on 05 December. So far only Prof. Mills and former Finance Minister Dr Kwesi Botchwey have collected nomination forms to contest the primaries on 21 December.

Prof. Mills urged delegates to vote for a candidate who would command the support of the rank and file.

He said he was optimistic of winning the primaries, stressing, "I am convinced that when delegates listen to their constituents, examine my record in the public service and in government, review my loyalty and dedication, assess my popularity throughout the country, even amongst floating voters and acknowledge my potential for winning the 2004 elections, they will vote massively for me."

He urged the rank and file of the party to close their ranks and not to allow petty disagreements to divide them.

Receiving the papers, Dr Nii Josiah Aryeh, General Secretary, said National Executive Committee would examine each of the prospective candidates based on the party's eligibility criteria.

Dr Aryeh explained that the party's constitution on selection of presidential candidates states that if at the close of nomination only one person files nomination as the party's presidential candidate he shall be subject to a vote.

The candidate must, however, obtain 50 percent plus one of the votes cast. Where two persons file nominations, the person who obtains the greater number of votes shall be declared elected as the party's presidential candidate.

It states that where at any ballot between two candidates, the votes are equal, another shall be held.