NPP to launch new party cards

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is to launch its new party card to replace those currently in possession of members, Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the party announced on Wednesday.

Briefing the media during a meeting with regional secretaries and organisers of the party in Kumasi, he said the introduction of the new cards would enable the party to know its actual membership, adding every member would have to apply.

Mr Botwe also announced that the party would go to congress sometime this year, to elect its presidential candidate in accordance with its constitution, which enjoins it to elect a presidential candidate 24 months before general elections.

He said the meeting was to discuss the state of the party in the regions in preparation towards the 2004 elections, explaining that such meetings also helped to disseminate information and learn at first hand the strength of the party.

Mr Botwe said it was also to afford the national secretariat the opportunity to answer questions about issues in the party and to get feedback on people's feelings at the grassroots on the government's performance.

The General Secretary said how to raise money and encourage members to pay their dues towards funding party activities was of concern to the leadership. The introduction of the new party card, Mr Botwe said, would enable the party to know members who pay their dues regularly.

He announced that the regional secretariats would be computerised and that Greater Accra, Central, Brong-Ahafo, Western and Eastern regional secretariats would be equipped first, while the rest would follow later.

Mr Botwe asked all those who left the party to join the NDC to return to the fold since the party was ready and willing to accept them. Asked whether Alhaji Inusah would be accepted back into the party, the General Secretary said the party does not reject those who want to join, but that he would apply.

Mr Botwe said the party would celebrate its 10 years of existence in recognition of the vision of its founding fathers saying that at a time when they advocated multi-party democracy, market economy, human rights, the rule of law and freedom of expression, they were not understood.