The Defeat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the last general election was a blessing in disguise, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, former Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister said at Sunyani on Thursday.

"The defeat, though painful, has helped us a lot, because we can now identify the real and courageous party members in our fold," he said.

Addressing a conference of the party's youth and women's wings he noted that the NDC lost the elections because it was defeated in the region, as the votes of the youth and women went to New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Alhaji Adam, former Member of Parliament for Techiman South, said victory for the NDC in the 2004 general election therefore would depend on the proper organisation of the youth and women's wings in the region.

Alhaji Adam entreated the youth and women not to be discouraged but to work hard towards a decisive victory in the next elections.

He stressed that victory in politics depended on proper planning and effective organisation and urged the two wings to reactivate themselves and embark on an effective organisation to win more supporters for the party.

Alhaji Adam, who is also secretary to the party's regional organisation task force, asked members, especially the youth, to participate actively in phone-in programmes on FM radio stations to put across their views on national issues.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah, Regional Secretary cautioned members against in-fighting which he said could further put the party in disarray.

He said disunity as a result of the splinter groups within the party contributed to its defeat in the last elections.

Later in an election, which was supervised by Mr Amadu Sulley, Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, the Regional Youth Organiser was returned unopposed.

Messrs Justice Sam Adjei from Sunyani East and Suleman Owusu, Techiman South youth organiser, were also declared unopposed as first and second deputy regional youth organisers.

Miss Agnes Adoma, a seamstress and former regional treasurer defeated Miss Franklina Asamoah, the incumbent as the regional women's organiser by 19 to 11 votes.

Florence Anning Addae, Dormaa West Women's Organiser and Augustina Nti, Deputy women's organiser for Berekum were also elected unopposed as the first and second regional women organisers.

Miss Adoma told the GNA that the party was in a period of rebirth, which demanded dedicated members to prepare the grounds for a massive victory in the 2004 elections.