NDC opens nominations for flag bearer election on Tuesday

April 30, 2011
Accra , April 30, GNA - The National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday affirmed that nominations for the party's Election 2012 flag bearer slot open on Tuesday May 3.

Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC General Secretary, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that the nomination process would end on May 10.

Submission of completed nomination forms is slated for June 1, vetting of potential candidates would be from June 7-8, and release of delegates' lists would be on June 10.

He reiterated an administrative order restraining all executives officers of the party from issuing any public statement in support of any flag bearer aspirant.

"No party executive Member - National, Regional and Constituency - or any member of any organs of the party should issue any public statements or make any public pronouncements which have the effect of committing the support of the whole of that organ, institution, branch or structures of the party to any contestants."

He said any party executive who violated any part of the Code of Conduct shall be subject to sanctions by NEC upon the recommendation of a Disciplinary Committee.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah directed party supporters to acquaint themselves with details in the "NDC Guidelines and Time Table for Internal Party Elections," which was launched in Accra recently.

In a seven-point "Code of Conduct for Election of NDC Presidential Candidate" the party ordered contestants, their supporters and agents to avoid rancorous or abrasive conduct during the campaign, avoid campaign of vilification and mudslinging.

"Contestants, their supporters or agents should at no time, during campaigning resort to the use of insinuations, abusive or intemperate language against their opponents."

It says all contestants, their supporters or agents must be guided by the supreme interest of the party, abide by the party's Code of Conduct as provided for in Article 40 of the NDC Constitution.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that in violation of any portion of the Code of Conduct, the party's Disciplinary Committee at the national level would invoke the appropriate provisions of the party's constitution in case of breach.

He said the Disciplinary Committee would handle all complaints brought before it expeditiously by inviting the contestants, his or her supporters or agent whose conduct or utterance had been subject of the complaint and upon the determination of the complaint recommend the necessary sanctions against a person found liable to the NEC.

GNA