NDC expunges Propaganda office from constitution

Delegates to the 8 th National Delegates' Congress of the governing NDC have voted to remove the office of Propaganda Secretary from the party's constitution.

The Propaganda Secretariat will now be replaced with a National Communications Directorate.

The National Democratic Congregation (NDC) was the only political party in the country with an office for Propaganda manned by a National Propaganda Secretary supported by regional and constituency propaganda secretaries.

This was heavily criticized by opposition political elements and pro-democracy organizations who said the institutionalization of Propaganda by the NDC amounted to formalizing lying and spin-doctoring in the nation's politics.

In an apparent response to the criticism, the governing party tabled a motion to amend the constitution, remove the Propaganda Secretary position and replace it with a Communications Directorate as the New Patriotic Party currently has. Delegates endorsed the motion.

The delegates also voted to expand the NDC's delegates' list. The list of delegates who vote to elect party leaders in the NDC is around 3,600, a figure criticized as too narrow for a mass-based party.

Opponent of the governing party, NPP, has a broader delegates' list of over 144,000 who vote from polling stations across the country to elect party leaders and the flagbearer.

Before today, leaders of the NDC had always scoffed at suggestions that they should follow the example of the NPP and expand its delegates' list.

General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said previously that the peculiarities of the NPP that necessitated the expansion of the delegates' list did not exist in the NDC.

It appears things have changed now. The delegates of the party have voted to expand the list.

A committee will now be formed to fashion out the modalities to do the expansion, Employment and Labour Relations Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced at the congress grounds.

Over 70 aspirants are jostling for the votes of delegates for 15 positions in the governing party.

The Chairmanship, Vice-Chairmanship, National Organiser and Deputy General Secretary positions are the most hotly contested.

Incumbent Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei is facing competition from one of his deputies – Kofi Portuphy – and former Trade Minister, Dan Abodakpi.

Another of his contenders, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya for as yet undisclosed reasons, stepped out of the race.

A former deputy General Secretary, Kofi Adams is in poll positions to snatch the National Organiser position from incumbent, Yaw Boateng Gyan.

Seventeen candidates, including former Attorney-General Betty Mould Iddrisu, football administrator, Harry Zakour, Lee Ocran, Anita Desosoo, Alhaji Said Sinare, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo amongst others are fighting for six Vice-Chairmanship slots.