NDC Worried Over Suspected Arms Cache

The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed grave concern over suspected clandestine importation of ammunitions into the country by the ruling New Patriotic party (NPP).

Former Ashanti Regional Minister Daniel Ohene Agyekum who raised this concern in Kumasi over the weekend while addressing a day's seminar for about 40 party organizers drawn from across the country said this is " a worrying matter" because the media, civil society and religious leaders are quite over the issue.

The NDC stalwart said the party's leadership and the Parliamentary caucus would work to find out where these ammunitions are kept saying, "this step is crucial for the survival of the present democracy."

Notwithstanding the perceived imminent threat the NDC is prepared to give the NPP a stiff opposition at the elections. "The NPP cannot hand power to itself on a silver platter" he warned.

He said the NPP has failed to recognize the fact that NDC, made up of the best from the UP and CPP tradition, is a dynamic force which cannot be destroyed.

Ohene Agyekum said the NDC's priority is to dislodge the NPP at the elections in December.

According to him, NDC will not only rise to the challenge but also rise to provide the country with a leadership to reduce the economic hardships facing Ghanaians.

He urged the participants to renew their commitment and dedication to ensure that the party's objectives are adequately met.

NDC chief scribe Dr. Nii Josiah Arye said basing politics on statistics and realism, the party was working to properly oust the NPP by winning the elections branch by branch towards a massive win generally.

He admitted that the NDC would be fighting the deadliest enemy (NPP) for the fact that they (NPP) will fight like "wounded lions".

The deputy General secretary, Mr.Baba Jamal disclosed that the NDC was adequately prepared to contest the elections and win massively.

He said considering the provisional results of the just ended registration exercise NDC would now secure about 40% of votes in Ashanti region to strengthen its support base in other regions.

According to him NDC has 80% hold on votes from the Western and central regions and that the party would also take advantage of the large number of floating voters in the Greater Accra region.

He said the NDC was firmly on the ground in the Volta region and that the NPP will be struggling to get 100 votes in the Volta region. "Their (NPP) claim of alleged inroads in our (NDC) World Bank (Volta region) is a farce," Jamal told the enthusiastic organizers amid deafening cheers.

Jamal indicated that the situation in the three Northern regions and the Eastern region were encouraging and also mentioned that reports from the Brong Ahafo indicated that the mass cocoa spraying exercise was rather destroying cocoa farms for which reason farmers were turning to the NDC.

Convinced of NDC's strategic plans, Mr. Sly Akakpovie, the Regional party secretary, noted that the situation Ashanti would change come December 2004.

He said the NDC is looking beyond 40% votes in Ashanti towards winning the elections "one touch" predicting that there would not be the need for a second round. He explained that the NPP had rendered Ashanti region a deplorable state.

"The elephant (NPP) has destroyed the region so much that our brothers in the Brong Ahafo region will have to find a place for it (elephant) in Kasapin" he pleaded.

The national Youth organizer, Haruna Iddrisu in an outburst called for an open investigation into the disbursement of HIPC Funds because the use of the Funds, which should have been lodged into the Consolidated Funds, is illegal and unconstitutional.

According to him the HIPC fund is not treated as a public fund and needs to be probed.

The seminar themed " the Way forward after Registration" and held at the Salisburg Hotel at Ahinsan in Kumasi last Saturday, is to enable the Party to step up its strategy and prepare the required apparatus towards winning the 2004 elections.

Master strategist Mr. Kofi Portuphy schooled the participants on image building, propaganda, social democratic principles, organization, campaign messages and election strategies based on the vision and mission of the party.