DPP goes to congress in July.

Tema, May 16, GNA -- The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has decided to hold its national congress on Saturday, July 31, 2004, to elect its flag bearer for the December presidential and parliamentary elections. The venue for the congress will be the Arts Centre, Accra, where all the over 400 delegates will gather for the day's meeting.

Mr Thomas N. Ward-Brew, leader and founder of the party who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency said the theme for the congress would be "Upholding national unity". He said the objective of the DPP is to participate in the parliamentary and presidential elections in the December 2004.

Mr Ward-Brew disclosed that DPP, will field a candidate to contest the forthcoming by-elections in June which has been declared by the Electoral Commission, following the death of Mr C.O. Nyano, Member of Parliament for Denkyira. He said DPP has been able to take part in all the six by-elections in the country and "we are not going to stop to put up a candidate because it is near the December election."

Mr Ward-Brew said during the recent political parties retreat at Aburi, it was the view of many of the parties to stop the by-election, because the person to be elected will not serve for even more then one session. Ideally, Mr Ward-Brew noted, it would have been good if all the political parties had decided not to participate, including the NPP, just for the sake of saving resources for the next general elections.

He said the NPP said they will take part in the bye-elections, therefore if other political parties refuse to file their nominations, the party will go unopposed to have the elections on a sliver platter, adding DPP will not allow this to happen.