General News of Sunday, 21 April 2002

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Atta-Mills in Ghana for NDC Congress

Former Vice President, Professor Evans Atta Mills has arrived in Ghana for the 5th national delegates congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which takes place next Saturday. The congress, the first to be held since the party lost the December 2000 elections has been described as a make or break affair for the NDC. Internal squabbles surrounding the ambitions of some personalities contesting positions within the party have largely created divisions.

Political scientists have argued that the party would have to put its house in order before the congress to prevent looming post-congress problems that can scuttle the future of the NDC. The council of elders and National Executive Committee have been meeting to take firm decisions aimed at stemming the tide of potential problems.

Professor Mills who led the NDC to the last elections and is considered favourite to lead the party for the 2004 elections, told JOY FM at the airport that the party’s future is in the hands of the rank and file.

According to him, individuals contesting positions must be concerned about the party rather than their personal interests. Professor Mills who is currently based in Canada as a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia, advised party members to eschew divisive tendencies.