The National Standing Committee of the People's National Convention (PNC) has relieved Mallam Ali Yusuf Isa, former Minister of Youth and Sports, of his position as acting National Chairman of the party for vacating his post.

The committee, the highest body of the party, explained that "the acceptance of an appointment by Mallam Isa in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government amounted to vacation of his post as the acting National Chairman". Col David Gbong Zanelerigu (rtd), first Vice-National Chairman of the PNC, is, therefore, to take over from Mallam Isa pending the election of a substantive chairman at the party's congress.

These were contained in a statement issued and signed by Dr Somtim Tobiga, Spokesman of the party, after the party's National Standing Committee meeting held at Bolgatanga at the week-end. The statement said even though the party has not entered into an alliance with the NPP, it does not object to individual members of the party accepting appointments from the NPP administration "since as citizens of Ghana, they are entitled to participate in the governing of the country".

It, however, said such members of the party who accept positions in the government do so in their individual capacities but not as representatives of the party. The party has, meanwhile, directed its headquarters in Accra to come out within two weeks with the outcome of a research the party conducted to determine the factors that contributed to its defeat in the last elections.

According to the statement, a seminar aimed at reviewing the reports and making the appropriate recommendation for the mobilisation and utilisation of the party's resources towards the next general elections, has been scheduled for April 28, 2001. Earlier, the leader of the party, Dr Edward Nasigri Mahama had met the party's member of Parliament (MPs) and constituency chairmen to discuss ways and means of improving their performance.