The main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has cleared the first of a series of hurdles, which will to a large extent determine its political future ? the conclusion of its 5th national delegates? congress to elect national executives.

The next hurdles include the proper healing of the wounds inflicted by the acrimonious campaigning prior to the congress, the role of the women?s wing, funding for the building of the party, and regulations for the determination of its presidential and parliamentary candidates.

As at last weekend, efforts by leading members of the party to arrange a meeting between the founder, ex-president Rawlings and the acting leader, Dr. Obed Asamoah had not materialized, a Daily Dispatch report say.

According to the paper, whilst many analysts agree that the hardcore support of the ex-president is vital, there is another school of thought that there is the urgent need for the party to grow without the Rawlings ?oxygen like? hold.

?A hurdle that could prove to be perhaps, the most difficult in the NDC?s re-building efforts is the role of the women?s wing in general and that of former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. There had been credible reports that the ex-president?s disapproval of Dr. Obed Asamoah being the chairman of the NDC was because he could be a stumbling block should the former first lady decide to heed calls on her to offer herself to contest as the NDC?s 2004 presidential slot,? the paper says.

Thos who do not support Mrs. Rawlings? candidature argue that although she is a good politician in her own right, there is the likelihood of a backlash on floating voters who think that Ghana does not deserve a Rawlings dynasty. There is a school of thought that Nana Konadu could emulate the route taken by her good friend, Mrs. Hillary Clinton (who is a Senator) by first contesting the 2004 parliamentary elections.

The paper also contends the issue of roles for leading women in the former NDC government: are they to be given the same prominence in the re-organised NDC or should the elected Women?s Organiser be given the duty of co-ordinating these leading women? This issue is likely to be a fierce battleground and the earlier the executives take note and get their diplomacy tactics in full gear, the better.

Finance is going to be one of the delicate issues the party will have to deal with, the paper said. As one of its leading members said, ?Being in opposition is hell? and that businesses which were hitherto ?friendly? had boycotted them. The party will have to work extra hard to raise funds.

First there are the businessmen and women who donate both ways to the government in power and the main opposition party, then there are those businesses which say ?thank you? with part of profits arising from contracts awarded. Who awards contracts ? a government in power or a party on opposition?

There is no doubt that the NDC has learnt a lot of lessons from its 2000 electoral defeat and if it makes dispassionate analysis of its failures, it will emerge a party with a more diversified support base and more democratic. Insiders of the party who are desirous of giving the ruling New Patriotic Party a run in the 2004 elections agree that they have a mountain to climb.