Accra, May 30, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday announced the ground rules for all those aspiring to become the presidential candidate of the Party for Election 2008.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Kwamena Adjei, National Chairman of NDC, said 93all National Executive Committee Members should desist from showing open and active support for any presidential aspirant=94. Every Executive Member or supporter should during the campaign demonstrate an attitude of warm welcome to every presidential aspirant, he said.

Dr Adjei said Party members should provide an equal and fair support necessary for every aspirant visiting his or her region, constituency, branch or integral organ and that negative propaganda should never be directed at any presidential aspirant. He urged Party supporters to appreciate the need to focus on issues articulated by presidential aspirant, avoiding personal attacks and to place the value on the elective mechanisms as the central pivot of democracy.

Dr Adjei said the essence of the regulations was to demonstrate the Party's strong will to provide an even electoral playing field for prospective aspirants to ensure free, fair and transparent election. He said a person wishing to contest for the position of the presidential candidate of the Party must comply with the requirement of Article 8 of the NDC Constitution and Article 62 of the 1992 Constitution which spelt out the qualifications of citizenship of Ghana. The candidate too must accept the constitution, aims, objectives, policies and programmes of the Party; must be a card bearing and fully paid-up member, who had paid all his or her subscription fees and annual dues.

Other qualifications included the acceptance of the rules and conduct of the Party; must not be in breach of the Party's Disciplinary Code of Conduct.

He said the nomination of candidates by the Party would be proposed by two members and seconded by four members of the Party, who were in good standing.

"A duly proposed contestant shall be endorsed by two Party members of good standing from each of the 230 constituencies; all contestants shall be free to display prominently their names and posters at the national, regional, constituency and branch offices of the Party". He said notice of election of the presidential candidate would be published at the national, regional and constituency offices at 120 days before the date fixed for the National Congress while nominations for election of the presidential candidate should close at least 14 days before Congress.

He said all eligible Party members desirous of contesting for the position shall upon the payment of the prescribed fee, collect and complete in triplicate nomination forms from the General Secretary or a person authorized by him.

Completed forms with evidence of having fulfilled all qualifications and requirements as provided under the regulation shall be returned before the close of nominations, he said

On the code of conduct, he noted that contestants, their supporters and agents should abide by the Party's Code of Conduct during their campaigns beginning from the time of opening of nominations to the Special National Delegates Congress, during and after the Congress, Dr Adjei said the list of accredited delegates as approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) should be made available to all eligible contestants at least 14 days before the date of election, which would be by secret ballots.

If at the close of nominations only one person files as the Party's presidential candidate, he or she shall be subjected to a vote of which he must obtain 50 per cent plus one of the votes cast.

Where two persons filed their nominations, the person who received the greater number of votes shall be declared as the Party's presidential candidate.

He said a run-off shall be held in the case of a tie between the two contestants until one of them gets a simple majority. 30 May 06