NDC wants aspiring DCEs and MCEs to resign

Kintampo (B/A) Oct. 2, GNA- The Centre for Democratic Development and the Christian Council of Churches have been urged to impress upon government to ask district chief executives (DCEs) and metropolitan chief executives (MCEs) who intend to contest parliamentary election to resign from their positions.

Mr. Venkumini Harris, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Brong Ahafo Deputy Regional Secretary, in-charge of operations, who made the call in an interview with GNA at Kintampo, alleged that some DCEs and MCEs were using government resources in their electioneering campaigns. He said "Since aspiring presidential candidates of the NPP have been made to resign from their positions as Ministers of State, the same directive should be given to the Chief Executives who are parliamentary aspirants."

Mr. Harris alleged that these candidates rode in government vehicles and carried items for distribution to the people, and said they should not be allowed to pursue their personal ambitions using the nation's scarce resources.

He said studies had revealed that DCEs and MCEs were concentrating on their electioneering campaigns to the detriment of development programmes in their districts and municipalities.

Mr. Harris said the NDC leadership expressed the hope to maintain their sitting MPs for the 2008 General Election as the had already marketed themselves.

He however said the NDC would call a meeting of aspirants in new constituencies to ensure that the party elected credible candidates who can compete with the New Patriotic Party candidates in the 2008 Election.

Mr. Harris urged NDC constituency executives to re-organise the electorate at the zonal level to enable the party win the Kintampo North and South seats.