PNC embarks on programme to enhance capacity of members

The People's National Convention (PNC), has embarked on a nation-wide training programme to strengthen the capacity and skills of its members in party activities, at the constituency, ward and unit levels.

Mr Gabriel Pwamang, General Secretary of the PNC, who announced this said the programme, which takes the form of seminars and lectures, has already been conducted in the Upper-West, Upper-East, Brong Ahafo and the Western Regions.

Mr Pwamang announced this in Kumasi on Saturday when he addressed one of such training programmes organised by the PNC for its activists in the Ashanti Region. The programme, which was focused at enlightening members of the party in the region on local level political leadership and democracy, was attended by 80 activists of the party, from the various constituencies of the region.

It is being sponsored by the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy, an NGO in Holland, with support from Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) also an NGO. Mr Pwamang stated that the PNC decided to usher in such a training programme because of the conviction that, the party's chances of winning the 2004 general elections will very much depend on the strength of the party at the unit or grassroots level and not "the top".

The General Secretary advised the membership of the party to shun old and conservative campaign strategies, and begin to use more innovative and creative strategies in their campaign drives.

Mr Bernard Mornah, a Resource Person at the training seminar, who spoke on, "Political Parties and strengthening democracy in Ghana", urged party members to strive to be well-abreast with the manifesto of the PNC themselves. "This way, you will be better placed to explain the principles of the party to non-members, and thereby use it as a tool to win them over to the PNC", he added.

Another Resource Person, Mr. Karl Adongo, who also spoke on the Topic, "The challenges of political mobilisation for community Development", asked party members, sympathisers and activists not to focus only on party activities but also endeavour to participate in every communal activity.