Kumasi, Dec. 02, GNA - A two-day capacity building workshop for the youth wing of National Democratic Congress (NDC) opened in Kumasi on Saturday. The workshop being attended by 60 youth organizers and coordinators from the 10 regions and tertiary institutions is being co-sponsored by Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy, an NGO. It is under the theme "NDC's Victory in Election 2008 - Role of the Youth".

Topics to be discussed would include the Party's Social Democratic Philosophy and Election 2008, Research and Information Transfer, Voter Mobilisation and Education.

Briefing newsmen, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, a leading member of the Party and a Senior Lecturer at GIMPA, said it was important to expose the youth to the Party's philosophy and issues to ensure a resounding victory in 2008.

He explained that the Party's philosophy was committed to gender, geographical and generational equity as well as health, food, housing and clothing for all. Mr Seidu Paakuna Adamu, a Policy Analyst for IEA Programmes said it was established to deepen democracy in Ghana and this was being executed in collaboration with the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy.

He said the institute had initiated programmes for political parties in Parliament and would soon be extended to other political parties in the country. Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Ashanti Regional Chairman of NDC, stressed the need for shared responsibility to nurture the nation's young democracy. He called on the media to have sober reflection on issues and be circumspect in their reportage for free and fair elections in 2008.