National Reform Party to hold Congress on August 28

Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - The National Reform Party (NRP) would hold its Third National Congress in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Region Capital, on August 28.

A statement in Accra on Wednesday by Mr Kyeretwie Opoku, General Secretary of the Party, said the Congress would be on the theme: "The Challenge of Consolidating Republican Democracy."

The Congress would hear the General Secretary's report and debate on "Threats to Republican Democracy" and "The Party and the 2004 General Election".

The statement said there would be National Council Elections during the Congress.

The statement said all Constituency Working Committees (CWCs) and Regional Working Committees (RWCs) might send five delegates each. "The 50-50 rule on gender balance of delegations remains in force," it said.

It said CWCs and RWCs that have not held elections may attend while organised groups of members in constituencies where formal leadership has broken down may apply for accreditation.

The statement said the National Secretariat would be responsible for the costs in securing the venue, congress documents and lunch on August 28.

Constituency and Regional delegations would be responsible for all other costs to, from and at Sunyani. These include transportation, feeding outside lunch on August 28 and accommodation where necessary.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr Nii Laate Percy, a member of the NRP, said only members of the National Council were eligible to contest elections for National Executive positions. Membership of the National Congress is 15 men and 15 women plus 10 persons from each region.

He said the NRP expected to field several parliamentary candidates for Election 2004.

Dr Percy said the feeling in the Party was that it would not field a candidate for the presidential vote in Election 2004. The Party's candidate in 2000 was Mr Goosie Tanoh.