Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday said it has no "grand design to rig next year's general elections."

Addressing a press conference in Accra, Mr Dan Botwe General-Secretary of the Party, said the party was a democratic one that derived its power from the people and not from the barrel of the gun. "Our promise to the people is that we will not at any time attempt to steal the people's verdict."

Mr Botwe, who presented a seven-point resolution adopted at the end of their three-day Annual Delegates Conference at Cape Coast, thanked the Delegates, the chiefs and the people for their hospitality.

Issues discussed at the Conference included, discipline within the party, strengthening of polling station structure, acquisition of party identity cards, improving government and party relations, performance of the government, holding of free and fair elections and strengthening of the youth and women's wings of the party.

He said the Party was displeased with the falsehood circulated by their political opponents that the party would rig the forthcoming elections.

Mr Botwe appealed to the media to be on the alert saying, "do not allow yourselves to become conduit pipes for the transfer of falsehoods, lies and propaganda that tend to erode the democratic gains that this country has made."

"Do not allow politicians to use you as an instrument for the execution of their selfish agenda. Your role in the 2004 elections in the consolidation of democracy is crucial. We urge you to play that role fairly," he said.