NDC Zongo Caucus not a pressure group - Deputy Co-ordinator

Accra, Jul 6, GNA - The Zongo Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been established to facilitate communication and mobilization of NDC members and supporters within Zongo communities and not a pressure group or to promote factionalism and division within the party.

This was stated by Alhaji Baba Sheriff, Deputy National Co-ordinator of the Zongo Caucus, at the inauguration of the Odododiodioo Constituency branch of the group in Accra on Saturday. He explained that, Zongo communities had peculiar problems such as language barrier and other constraints that hindered effective communication and mobilization within the party and said the group was to find solutions to them and not to usurp structures within it or for any divisive motive.

The Deputy National Co-ordinator called on residents of Zongo communities to patronize the National Identification exercise to obtain their National Identity (ID) cards, which had started in the Central Region.

He reminded residents of Zongo communities of the "Aliens Compliance Order" of 1968 and urged them to take the exercise seriously. Alhaji Sheriff said branches of the Caucus had been formed throughout the regions, districts and constituencies and said the group was subservient to structures of the NDC. He urged executives and members of the Caucus to cooperate with the NDC hierarchy to ensure effective mobilization and support at all levels of the party's structure.

Mr. Festus Bekoe, Constituency Vice Chairman, on behalf of the Constituency Chairman, Mr. Daniel Nii Okai, commended members of the Zongo community for their unflinching support to the NDC. He called on the executives of the Caucus in the Constituency not to be swollen headed but to work hard to "Send Atta Mills to the Castle and retain the Odododiodioo seat in the December general elections". Mr. Bekoe appealed to members of the party to bury their differences and to unite solidly behind the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and the Parliamentary Candidate for the area, Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme to ensure victory in this year's elections. Mr. Walid Laryea, a former Constituency Youth Organiser who placed second at the party's primary to select a Parliamentary Candidate for the area also called on the members to unite and bury their differences to make victory a certainty for the NDC in the elections. He stressed the need to launch an effective house-to-house campaign to win over more supporters for NDC to retain the Odododiodioo seat and to form the next government.

Mr. Issaka Collison Cofie, on behalf of Mr. Benjamin Ayikuma Okai, a former Constituency Vice Chairman, who placed third in the primary also called for unity in the party saying; "We are all bothers in the same party and there is no problem among us and the former aspirants". He stressed the need to strive hard to retain the seat since that would be a victory not for an individual but for the NDC. The incumbent MP, Mr. Tackie Komme, said "In unity lies strength" and stated that with the selection of a Parliamentary Candidate over, he would form a campaign team including the two defeated aspirants to achieve victory for the NDC in the general election. He expressed satisfaction that the Caucus was made up of all segments in the society, including non-Moslems living in the Zongo communities and commended Mr. Walid Laryea and Mr. Okai also known as "Teacher Nii Nii" for their "matured" stand to keep the NDC flag high in the area.

Mr. Tackie Komme said he would mount a house-to-house and market-to-market campaign very soon with the two former aspirants and called on their supporters to "bury the hatchet" and unite to achieve victory for the party. An appeal for funds yielded 162 Ghana Cedis. 05 July 08