THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reiterated that former President Jerry John Rawlings still remains the founder and leader of the party.

“Former President Rawlings still remains the founder and leader of the party and has not passed on any mantle to anybody, as speculated by one newspaper.”

This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the Media Committee, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, in Accra on Wednesday.

The statement sought to clarify what it termed “recent inaccurate statements in some sections of the media about the future role of President Rawlings within the NDC hierarchy.”

According to the statement, the issues of the position of founder and leader is one affecting the party’s constitution , which can only be decided by a congress of the party.

It said recommendations of the National Executive Committee of the party that leadership positions in the NDC should be realigned does not constitute a rejection of the importance of President Rawlings “but follows suggestions made by some of the rank and file of the party’s Re-organisation Committee during its tour of the regions.”

“ This suggestion is only one of several that may be canvassed and presented to a future congress for discussion and decision,” the statement said.

It said the committee also recommended to the NEC that there should be three principal leadership positions in the party, to wit, the founder, chairman and flagbearer.

The statement said while the position of founder belongs in perpetuity to former President Rawlings, the positions of chairman and flagbearer should be subject to open contest amongst all interested qualified party members at congresses called for such elections.

It urged supporters of the party “ to stand fast behind the leadership of the NDC and not be disturbed by periodic media reports aimed at sowing seeds of confusion within the party and divide it”.