NDC to hold National Congress on September 30

Accra, Jan.17, GNA- The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed September 30, 2005 for its Congress to elect National Officers to steer the affairs of the Party for the next two years.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday and signed by Mr. Bede Ziedeng, Acting General Secretary said in view of the decision, the NEC in exercise of its residual powers under Section 49 of the Party's Constitution had further extended its term of office from April 29 to September 30.

It said, consequently the term of office of all executives below the NEC were also extended and would be governed by the time-table that would be issued in respect of the various conferences to be held leading to the Congress in September.

The statement said the decision was taken at the NEC meeting held in Accra on Thursday January 13 and accordingly a circular would be issued in due course from the National Secretariat to provide a detailed timetable with time-frames for the holding of the various conferences.

"In the meantime, all executives are advised to stay action on the earlier circular issued in respect of the restructuring of the Party", it added.

The statement said these decisions were taken in the supreme interest of the Party in spite of the constitutional requirements as it was clearly established at the meeting that there were practical and logistical difficulties that would make the holding of the Congress in April extremely difficult.

It said under the Party's Constitution, branch elections, constituency conferences and regional conferences would have to be completed before a National Congress could be held.

The statement said as a grassroots-based Party, there was the need to strengthen the base of the Party by ensuring that all these structures were properly put in place before any Congress was held, adding, "these were the issues which informed NEC's decision".

The NEC thanked the entire membership of the Party, the foot soldiers and its teeming supporters for their work, support and their massive turn-out in the December elections, which enabled the Party to put up the splendid performance, which should have earned it a deserving victory but for the massive irregularities that characterised the elections.