Statesman quoted JJ Out Of Context -Haruna

A National Executive member of National Democratic Congress (NDC) Haruna Iddrisu has dismissed a publication in today?s edition of the Statesman Newspaper, which quoted party founder Jerry Rawlings as saying that the opposition party cannot wait till 2008 to change government.

The paper, which quoted a source within the NDC, said the former president made the statement without specifying his preferred mode of changing the government?s before the constitutionally sanctioned four -year periods.

However Mr. Iddrisu says the paper quoted the former president out of contest.

Mr. Iddrisu who is the MP for Tamale South said the meeting, which was attended by members of the National Executives Council and other high profiled party members, was primarily to appraise the party?s performance at the just ended national election.

While admitting that the former president spoke about taking steps to oust the NPP, Mr. Iddrisu explained that his focus was on starting the 2008 campaign now.

Mr. Iddrisu also disclosed that the weekend meeting also extended the mandate of the national executives of the party by additional six months.

As a result the executive council mandate, which should have ended in April has now been shifted to September. The party will go to congress in September to elect new leadership.