Accra (Greater Accra) President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday asked members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to put an end to the "unproductive speculation" about the presidential running-mate "as it only creates unnecessary antagonism.

"Let me restate the convention which, as we all know, has been followed before and which we have not changed. The identity of the Vice-Presidential candidate and the time when this is announced is the prerogative of the flag-bearer, in consultation with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party."

President Rawlings, who is founder and leader of the NDC, stated this when he launched the Party's manifesto towards the December 2000 elections, the third since the advent of constitutional rule in 1992.

The seven-chapter, 76-page manifesto outlines the party's agenda for the 2000 elections and beyond, and also contains presidential and budget statements from 1990 to 2000.

The campaign itself will be under the overall direction of the NEC, but Commodore Steve Obimpeh (Rtd) has been selected as Campaign Manager of the flag-bearer, Prof. John Atta Mills.

President Rawlings said to cheers from a packed hall of NDC enthusiasts that it is time to stop the indiscipline, which is setting members against each other for personal or factional ambitions.

He said it is of no use for members to complain about negative publications about the party in the private media "when some of our own members provide the ammunition for these attacks."