Tamale, Oct. 12, GNA - The People's National Convention (PNC), has embarked on a nation-wide training programme for its executives from the ward, zonal and constituency levels to strengthen the party's preparedness towards the 2004 elections.

A statement issued in Tamale on Saturday and signed by Mr Gabriel Pwamang, General Secretary of the party said the objective was to train local level leaders in political organization and mobilisation to equip them with skills to fight the course of the party.

The statement said the programme would make the constituency executives more professional in their work as cadres of a well structured and organised group, which would not only contest elections and disintegrate when not in power but would also stand the test of time to propagate the vision and policies of the party.

"The Constitution of Ghana provides for a multi-party democracy and places a huge burden on political parties and for some time now political parties in the country have not been professional in their operation due to lack of adequate training," the statement said.

"Political parties are given a critical role in our democracy but funding has always been a hindrance to their activities," the statement added and appealed to the government to move the programme for state funding of political parties to the implementation stage to enable all the parties perform their roles.

The party is currently benefiting from assistance from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which is helping in the capacity building of political parties to play the roles expected of them in a democracy.