NDC targets NPP seats

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says come the next general elections, it is targeting to reclaim at least 30 seats it lost to the ruling New Patriotic Party in the 2004 polls.

NDC General Secretary, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said that the party was aware it cannot win all seats belonging to the NPP, said the modest target was a realistic one.

"We have to set achievable objectives so that it will not remain wishful thinking."

He told the paper that the party would open nominations for primaries on orphan constituencies (those seats the party lost in 2004) on June 1, 2007, in an attempt to claw back the lost constituencies.

Disclosing this at the party's headquarters in Accra, the NDC scribe said guidelines for the nomination were ready and were awaiting approval by the National Executive Committee.

Asiedu Nketia said the guidelines had already been approved by the Functional Executive Committee.

On what has informed the party's decision to open the nominations, the he pointed out that when the Party wins power in 2008, it will spread its appointments across all the regions.

"There must be a regional balance in appointments. Even the regions, where we are weak, we need to make appointments of District Chief Executives, Ministers and Ambassadors."

He therefore appealed to those who considered themselves competent for appointment to be ready and lead the party in electoral battles so as to garner more seats for the NDC.

Asiedu Nketia said aspirants at the primaries would have to be party members in good standing, for at least two years.

He however indicated that when nominations are opened in June, constituencies with sitting NDC MPs will not be part of the contest; separate guidelines will apply to constituencies belonging to the NDC.

He said if the party wins power in 2008, would favour for appointments, people who have contested elections on the ticket of the NDC and people who have volunteered to be polling agents for the party as well as people who have played significant roles to demonstrate commitment to the party.