Dr Kwesi Botchwey, an aspiring National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, on Tuesday declared that selection of the party's presidential candidate and other leaders by popular acclamations is over.

"The new democratic development within the party and the evolving political culture in the country negate popular acclamation, which has been the trade mark of our party," Dr Botchwey told Ayawaso Constituency executives and members in Accra.

Dr Botchwey who was interacting with the supporters to solicit their support and vote as the flag bearer noted that healthy intra-party competition strengthens internal democracy and grassroots participation in the highest decision making process.

He said the deepening of democracy within the party was commendable, adding that it was the beginning of a tradition of picking the party's flag bearer through open and competitive elections.

"This has been the driving force behind my intention to contest for the position and lead the party to electoral victory in 2004 general elections." He lauded supporters for keeping faith with the NDC despite recriminations and intimidations since it lost power in the last general elections.

Dr Botchwey said it was unfortunate that in certain countries on the continent, leaders anointed successors and had them accepted by acclamation. He said the new dispensation called for the strengthening of the party's political and ideological foundations through various study groups in all the constituencies.

"This way, the party would become not just an electioneering machinery that would be active on the eve of an election but a vehicle for continuing mobilisation." He, therefore, called for the reassembling of all "social democratic forces" which left the party as well as its sympathizers.

Dr Botchway said he wanted to contest the position because his experience over the past six years at Harvard and Columbia Universities had deepened his understanding of the complex challenges of national development.

He advised party activists, supporters and executive members to embrace the new democratic concept and avoid politics of insult, intimidation and personal attacks. "Such actions would divide our rank and make party cohesion after elections very difficult as people would count the cost of losing vis-a-vis the personal attacks."

Dr Botchwey said party unity and integrity are paramount to the candidates' personal ambition and interest, stressing. "I will not do anything to divide the rank and file of the party and jeopardise our chances of regaining power in 2004 elections."

He urged delegates and party functionaries to assess the candidates based on their visions, ideas and programmes for the nation and party. He pledged his continuous support to develop the grassroots structures of the party with funds and resources to strengthen it.

Dr Botchwey refuted allegations of financial inducement of delegates, explaining that whatever assistance he gave to the constituencies was for party infrastructure development, and these were in the open.