There appears to be a deliberate attempt by the national executive of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stifle the party's founder and former President, Jerry John Rawlings, from campaigning for his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

Days after Nana Konadu, who is also President of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), a women's wing of the party, openly declared her intention to contest for the flagbearership position of the NDC in the upcoming congress, the party has outdoored a set of guidelines to govern the upcoming congress.

A clause in the guidelines debars party executives from issuing public and press statements or pronouncements in support of a candidate.

This directive comes days after some regional executives of the party made open declarations in support of President Mills.

The clause states that 'any party executive who issues public statements, press statements and make public pronouncements or violates/ breaches any part of the code of conduct shall be subject to sanctions by NEC upon the recommendation of a Disciplinary Committee.'

By virtue of his position as founder who attends National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, Konadu's supporters consider this as a deliberate ploy to prevent Mr Rawlings, who has already given Konadu his blessings to contest incumbent President Mills, from campaigning for her.

But Kofi Adams, spokesperson to the former First family, said Rawlings could not be gagged.

He told Citi Fm the party's guidelines did not bar individual executive members from declaring support for any aspirant, and that he would not be deterred from supporting Mrs. Rawlings's bid to contest for the NDC flagbearership against President Mills.

Mr. Adams insisted he could fulfill both his duties as spokesperson to the Rawlings family and deputy NDC General Secretary.

'President Rawlings will not cease to exist because the former First Lady is running. She is running for an office and that office is there, whereas I am spokesperson for the family so when matters that affect the family come, I will speak about them. On matters of campaigning, there will be a spokesperson.

But I don't think the regulation did say that party executives cannot support a candidate. It only said that you cannot say that a group that you belong to supports a person but individually you can support if you so wish.

'I support the former First Lady and I have not minced words about that,' he noted.

But NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah aka General Mosquito, who made the contents of the guidelines public at a press conference in Accra yesterday, saw nothing wrong with the earlier endorsements and declaration of support by some party executives for Mills since, according to him, no rules had been set at the time they made those declarations.

Now that guidelines have been set for the congress, he said, people would be held accountable for their actions.

Each contestant is required to pay a non-refundable fee of GH¢20,000 as filing fee.

The party has however made special concession for female contestants, offering to give a 50 percent rebate, with the hope of encouraging more women to participate in the democratic process and assume a more responsible role in the governance of the NDC and the country at large.

Nominations therefore open on May 3, 2011 and close on May10, 2011 whilst submission of nomination is supposed to be submitted by June 1, 2011.

Vetting of candidates by a five-member team is also scheduled to take place between June 7 and June 8, 2011, after which a list of delegates would be released to those who qualify to contest the flagbearership position on June 10, 2011.

Exactly a month later, July 8 and 10, 2011, the NDC would hold what is expected to be a keenly-contested congress in the Brong Ahafo regional capital, Sunyani, to elect a Presidential candidate for the 2012 elections.

Over 3,000 delegates, including the founder of the party, Mr. Rawlings, leader of the party and President of the Republic, Prof. Atta Mills, the Vice President, National Executive Committee (NEC) members, Ministers of State, selected Regional Executives, Committee members, Parliamentarians and MMDCEs who are members of the party and foreign branch representatives are expected to cast their ballots during the three-day special congress For the first time in the party's internal electoral process, the Council of Elders and representatives of the Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN) who form a vital component of the NDC's constitution have also been included in the number of delegates expected at the congress.

Their inclusion was approved by the National Congress in Tamale early last year.

In order to uphold discipline and mutual respect as key principles for decent politicking, the NEC of the NDC has instituted a code to monitor and regulate the conduct of aspirants and their followers.

The code is therefore expected to restrain contestants and their supporters from engaging in acts that have the tendency to generate not only controversy and acrimony which could impact negatively on the party, but also eventually affect the overall campaign of the party against other political parties in the 2012 election.

Contestants, their supporters and/or agents have been barred from the use of insinuations, abusive or intemperate language against their opponents in their campaign.

They are also warned to desist from displaying rancorous or abrasive conduct, vilification and mudslinging during campaigns.

The party's Disciplinary Committee has therefore been activated to invoke appropriate provisions of the NDC's constitution in cases of breach of the code.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah assured the contestants that complaints brought before the party's disciplinary committee would be dealt with 'expeditiously.'

He noted that the party considered the processes leading to the congress as more important than the outcome, and would therefore 'try as much as possible' and within 'internationally recognized best democratic practices' to ensure transparency and provide a level playing field for all aspirants.