Sunyani, Oct. 2, GNA - Alhaji Alhassan Ibn Ibrahim, Secretary of the Zongo caucus of the National Democratic Party (NDC) in Ashanti Region at the weekend appealed to parents in Zongo communities to take advantage of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education Programme (FCUBE) and enrol their children in school. He urged the youth in the communities to engage in gainful employment rather than in social vices.

Alhaji Ibrahim was speaking to Ghana News Agency as leader of a delegation of the Ashanti Regional caucus of the NDC that met and discussed with the interim executives of the Party in Brong-Ahafo on how to educate the electorate in Zongo communities on the voting process. The visit was part of a nation-wide tour by the executives of the caucus to solicit views on widening the support base of the NDC to wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party in 2008.

Alhaji Ibrahim said the Caucus recognized the immense contributions the NDC made for Moslems when in power.

He particularly noted the institution of two holidays for Moslems on the national calendar, the establishment of the Islamic Education Unit and the allocation of airtime for Islamic programmes on both Television and radio stations.

Alhaji Ibrahim said it was imperative for the executives to adopt ways to re-activate and reorganize membership of the NDC from the grassroots level to form a formidable force to unseat the NPP in the next general election.

"We've realized that in the last election, many votes were spoilt. We will have to educate the electorate on how to vote so we can get more votes from them", he said.

Alhaji Ibrahim called on NDC members to vote massively for it in the 2008 elections since the NPP had failed to deliver on its electoral promises, and that Ghanaians were facing socio-economic hardships in view of the increases in water and electricity tariffs and a "poorly-managed" National Health Insurance Scheme.

Baba Gausu, Chairman of Brong-Ahafo Regional caucus thanked the Ashanti executives and gave the assurance that their counterparts in Brong Ahafo would work harder to ensure the Party's victory in the next general election.

Alhaji Othman Yahya, Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Caucus expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded the delegation and appealed to residents of Zongo communities to eschew divisive tendencies, which he said could deflate the party in its re-organisational efforts.

The executives of both regions called on the national executives of the NDC to bury their differences and work to move it forward. The team had already toured the Western and Central Regions and will visit Eastern and Volta Regions. It will end the tour with a visit to the Northern sector.