NDC members urged to accept settlement of impasse

Mr Kofi Attor, MP for Ho-Central on Saturday, urged members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to accept the amicable settlement of the impasse between ex-President J. J Rawlings and Dr Obed Asamoah, National Chairman, to ensure a united front to wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in 2004 elections.

Inaugurating the Volta Regional Youth Wing Working Committee (VRYWWC) of the NDC at Ho, he described the resolution of the impasse as "divine" for their common aspirations. He said the future of any political party depended on its youth and urged them to re-double their efforts in re-building the party to ensure victory in the next general elections.

Mr Attor, who is also the Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the party, said, "Disagreements on internal matters are part of the political game provided they do not affect the ideology of the party" and appealed to members not to fan them when they arose.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, National Youth Organiser of NDC, said adequate resources would be made available to revive structures in the wards and constituencies to enable the party to regain power.

He asked the Regional Youth Wing to prepare a programme up to 2004 to be supported by the party. Mr Iddrisu called on the youth to work hard, sacrifice and to be committed since it was the only way to unseat the "non-performing NPP government."

He blamed a section of the media for undermining the democratic governance of the country through "a consistently skewed and destructive reportage, which could foment instability and draw the wheel of development backwards".

The media are to keep government accountable and should not indulge in "mainstream" politics in favour of any party. He urged the government to be transparent and prudent in the privatisation of Ghana Airways and Ghana Telecom.

Mr Modestus Ahiable, MP for Ketu-North and Regional NDC Chairman called on the Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa to institute a probe into the activities of the district assemblies, which he said had become "havens for financial malfeasance". Assembly Members should scrutinise vouchers and all transactions to unearth the problem, he added.

Mr Ahiable criticised the government for refusing to give recognition to the good works of the NDC and said the GET Fund, VAT, Road Fund, Export Development Fund and other programmes were the "handiwork of NDC".

Mr Ludwig Hlodze, Deputy National Youth Organiser, appealed to members of the party to counter negative programmes of the ruling government. Mr Anthony Klutse, Regional Youth Organiser, urged the youth to work hard to ensure the NDC regained power. Some MPs, former District Chief Executives, and party activists attended the function.