NPP Begins Congress On Friday

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) holds its annual delegates congress from Friday, September 17, to Sunday September 19, 2004, at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.

The three-day conference would be attended by 1400 delegates, comprising members of the National Council, five delegates from each constituency, made up of three officers, all sitting MPs and one representative from each accredited overseas branch of the party.

Mr Harona Esseku, the National Chairman of the party told journalists at the weekend that the conference would be devoted to assessing the strength and weaknesses of the party and designing strategies to retain power at the December polls.He said speakers at the conference would include the President and selected ministers of state who would talk about the achievements and policies of government.

Mr Esseku said the other speakers would include the general secretary, treasurer and the national chairman. He said all the parliamentary candidates would be introduced at the conference.

According to Mr Esseku, highlights of the party's manifesto would also be discussed by the delegates. He said on Sunday, the delegates would attend an inter-denominational church service and climax the event with a rally at the Jackson Park.

Asked about the party's running mate for the December polls, Mr Esseku said the issue did not form part of the agenda and besides since the issue of the running mate was the prerogative of the President, he had not discussed it with the National Executive Council