Koforidua, Jan. 31, GNA-The Eastern Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the suggestion by the Member of Parliament for Lower Manya, Mr. Michael Nyaunu that the party should organize a special congress to elect a new flag bearer for the 2008 elections because of his belief that the flagbearer was sick and not based on any medical report.

The party described the comment as very unfortunate and highly unexpected of a true party faithful and called on Mr Nyaunu to retract his statement.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Eastern Regional Secretariat of the party, a copy of which was made available to the Ghana News Agency(GNA) at Koforidua on Thursday.

The statement said the party did not know, if Mr Nyaunu had any information about the health status of Professor John Evans Atta-Mills other than what the Professor himself and his medical officer had and that if Mr Nyaunu was only speculating, then it is a reckless statement and in very bad taste.

By the party's constitution, Article 38, "every party member shall faithfully comply and apply the following rule of conduct,... , defend the name of the party as well as its decision and faithfully implement all lawful decisions of the party." The party observed that, as far as the party is concerned, there had never been any decision to change the flag bearer and if he the member had any information which he thought was not available to the party hierarchy, it was his duty to go through the appropriate channel and make his views known to the party.

As far as the Eastern Region branch of the NDC was concerned, "the party knows that, Professor Mills is in excellent health, pledges its unflinching support for him and promises to work hard to ensure that he wins the elections."

The statement observed that, the party would not be deterred by any diversionary tactics, no matter where it is coming from.