I have read with utter dismay reports in a number of today's newspapers to the effect that I have resigned as General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress. I wish to respond that the reports are totally false. I have neither resigned nor issued a statement to that effect. Nothing that I have said publicly should also lead to conclusions that I intend resigning from the NDC.

I emphasize that I am happy and content in my present position as General Secretary and have no intention of betraying the trust reposed in me by the generality of party supporters and activists. Nor would I be detracted from prosecuting the Party's campaign by malicious and vicious propaganda, calculated to divert attention from critical national issues at this stage of the campaign.

Developments within the ruling New Patriotic Party suggest that they are desperate and jittery; they will resort to the most dastardly tactics to discredit their opponents. Over the past few years we have seen a consistent pattern of set-ups and entrapment conceived by the ruling party and orchestrated and executed by elements within the state security apparatus. The antecedents go back a long way and rely on deceit, financial inducements and suchlike to lure targeted individuals.

Over the past few days there had been a determined effort to arrange a meeting between President Kufuor and myself. I dispelled the possibility of meeting Kufuor and promptly reported the NPP's underhand approach to my principals, including our Presidential Candidate, Professor J.E. Atta Mills. Attempts by an NPP stable of newspapers to create rifts within the NDC by the resignation story are therefore laughable and should be dismissed with contempt.

I remain General Secretary of the NDC, whatever the wishes of the NPP and their cohorts. I urge all supporters of the NDC to respond positively to the challenges of the last stages of the campaign and to be wary of the subtlety of the tactics of our most intractable opponents.

DR NII JOSIAH ARYEH

GENERAL SECRETARY

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS