Accra, April 28, GNA - Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday, commended the Greater Accra Regional Executive Committee of the Party for their organisational exploits and establishing an Information Technology and Communication (ICT) Centre.

He said "They set the pace by instituting a new administrative mechanism for party organisation based on professional politicking and assisted the National Secretariat to build a website. I am impressed and challenge other regional executive committees to learn from them." Nana Ohene Ntow made the commendation at a Capacity Building workshop organised by the Committee for about 350 Constituency Executives on the theme; "Knowing Your Constitution for Better Teamwork," in Accra.

He also commended the cordial relationship that had existed between the current leadership and their predecessors in the region. On the current impasse within some Constituencies in the region, Nana Ohene Ntow quoted Article 3 (G and H) of the NPP Constitution and warned members of the Party of the consequences of their action. The Article states that "A Member may be expelled from the Party on grounds of misconduct in accordance with provisions of this Constitution, and upon such expulsion shall cease to be a member."

"A member who joins or declares his or her adherence to another political party automatically forfeits his or her membership of the Party."

Nana Ohene Ntow condemned political defection, saying "Any member who defects to other political persuasion should not be taken serious because such a person's loyalty should be questioned."

"People who defect on the slightest excuse should be looked at with suspicion and cannot be trusted should they decide to return to the NPP after political prostitution in the wilderness," he added. Sheikh Isaac Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, urged Party activists to eschew negative tendencies that had the potential to derail the Party's efforts in retaining power during the 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

He said "Basic tenets of democracy is that all men including party lords, activists and foot soldiers are valued equally as winning or losing elections emanating from the grassroots." Mr Sammy Crabbe, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Party, launched an employment opportunities portfolio for NPP activists at the workshop.

He urged the youth to seek knowledge and guidance on employment ventures available especially within the sub-metropolitan areas. Present at the workshop were Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Former Speaker of Parliament; Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD as well as Member of Parliament for Weija.

The rest were Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, Former National Chairman of the Party and Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diasporean Relations. 28 April 07