Accra, Jan. 27, GNA - A two-member delegation of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) left Accra on Friday for India to participate in activities marking Mahatma Gandhi's declaration of Passive Resistance.

The delegates were the General Secretary, Mr. Johnson Aseidu-Nketia and the immediate parliamentary candidate for Offinso by-elections, Ms. Barbra Serwah. The participation is at the invitation of the President of India National Congress, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.

In a pre-departure interview with newsmen at the Kotaka International Airport, Mr. Johnson Aseidu-Nketia said the invitation is India's recognition of the role NDC as a party had played in the Non-Alignment Movement and upholding democratic values in Ghana and other African countries.

He said the two party officials would hold discussion with government officials, executives and other leading members of the India National Congress, interact with other social democratic party officials.

He said Ms. Serwah would represent the views of the Youth and Women at the celebration and hold discussion with youth and gender activists in India.

Mr. Aseidu-Nketia said NDC's participation in the celebration of Passive Resistance - peaceful non-violence and empowerment in India to fight for liberation is unique, "it will enhance our party's non-violence credentials, even though our distractors had over the years attempted to paint the party as a violent one."

"Our recent peaceful National Delegates Congress, where Professor John Evans Attah Mills was elected as flag bearer of the party for Elections 2008 bears ample testimony to NDC's non-violence posture." The NDC General Secretary noted: ''Thought these perceptions are false, whether we like it or not, they have been urged on the minds of the majority of our people, and we need to take practical steps to reverse this so that people could identify themselves with the party and vote for it during elections''.

He noted that the rank and file of the party would not accept any excuses if the party fails to win the next general elections, stressing;

''Whatever the case, whatever it takes, the NDC has to win the Elections 2008 to curtail the sufferings of the people due to the mismanagement of the economy."

On NDC's focus towards Elections 2008, Mr. Aseidu-Nketia said the new leadership of the party has a clear vision of how to transform the NDC into a victorious broad-based popular party capable of attracting and accommodating people of rival political persuasions who are disillusioned with their parties and are seeking capable alternatives. He observed that the time has come for politics of internal petty rivalry to give way to that of nationalism in which one's capabilities should be the deciding factor for leadership.

The NDC General Secretary said majority of Ghanaians are yearning for a change in political leadership and a turn around in the economic fortunes of the country.

Mr. Aseidu-Nketia said historically, the support base of the party has always been narrow and it was time for the party to rope in more supporters by demonstrating in concrete terms that it was ready and qualified to address the most pertinent problems of the country, which he singled out as economic hardships.

The delegation, which would be away for nine days, was seen off at the Airport by leading members of the NDC, including Mr. Kofi Attoh, International Elections Officer and Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, National Organizer.