Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday described 2009 as "a tasking year" but said the party lived up to its commitment to deepen democratic governance in the country. In a New Year Message signed by Mr Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman, the party said fundamental changes had been made to the constitution to empower the grassroots and to give them more say in critical decision-making within the party.

Subsequently, he said, the party had given practical expression to these changes by successfully conducting elections across the entire country to elect party officers, from the polling station to the national level.

So far, Mr Mac Manu said, a total of 110,755 different internal elections had been successfully held, and the conduct of the five remaining regional executive elections and the national executive elections would generally complete the current set of party executive elections.

He said: "Today, the depth and extent of NPP's internal democracy is unparalleled in this country. To all those who have taken the party through such impressive and forward-looking changes, we say Ayekoo!

"We commend the unity with which both the winners and losers have worked to make the process a success. We urge party members to embrace all those who come to our fold, irrespective of their political backgrounds, as we seek to enlarge our numbers."