Party politics should not divide us- NDC candidate

Accra, Dec. 16, GNA- Mr Jerry Draman Jackson, the parliamentary candidate of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Election 2004, at Salaga in the East Gonja District, has called for urgent steps to heal the division and acrimony imposed on the people by party politics.

"There is serious political division in the District and I called on all stakeholders especially the re-elected Member of Parliament , Mr Boniface Saddique to get the people united," he said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

Mr Jackson, who is the former District Chief Executive, expressed the need for the Northern Regional Executive of the NDC "to put its house in order" to promote party unity and loyalty especially in the District.

" Can you imagine that I received complaints that some members of the Executive were campaigning against me?

"Such conflict of interest might have affected the victory of the party in the General Election and I called for thorough investigations," he said.

Mr Jackson debunked the notion that the NDC was a dead party and cited the victory of the party's Presidential Candidate, Professor John Atta Mills in the Salaga Constituency as good showing.

He said despite the little resources at his disposal, he gave Mr Sadique, the deputy Minister of Tourism and the Modernisation of the capital City a stiff contest.

" The party is very strong and come 2008 and by the grace of God I will stand again as a parliamentary candidate."

Mr Jackson commended people in the District and Ghanaians in general, for deepening the country's fledgling democracy by turning out in their numbers to cast their vote.

" I urge the electorate to put the election behind them and cooperate with the authorities to ensure rapid development." 16 Dec. 04