General News of Wednesday, 30 August 2000

Source: The Independent (Accra)

SPG Cautions NDC

The National Chairman of the Sankofa Progressive Group (SPG) Mr. Martin Aryee has called on the hierarchy of the NDC Party to as a matter of urgency, re-examine the popularity of some of its parliamentary candidates put forward and those found to have no wider appeal among the electorates replaced in the interest of the NDC.

He noted that due to the electorates' animosity towards some candidates put forward, they have resolved to vote for Professor Atta Mills alright but refrain from voting for the Parliamentary candidates, adding that this does not augur well for the NDC.

Mr. Martin Aryee, who is also NDC Chairman for the Ga South Constituency, made these remarks during an interaction with newsmen in Accra recently.

He also called on incumbent members of Parliament who have not been retained to contest the elections this year to take it in good faith and avoid taking hard-line decisions.

"In the same vein, those who have been selected or are yet to be selected must be sincere to themselves and the party and give way to those who have a wider appeal and in a better position to win the seat for the party" Mr. Aryee advised.

He reiterated the need for people to let their love for the party overcome their selfish interests without which the party is bound to suffer.

According to him, an independent nationwide tour he conducted to ascertain the strength of the NDC in the forth coming general elections shows that the NDC presidential candidate Professor. Mills is miles ahead of the other presidential candidates and on the verge of becoming the next President of Ghana.

The Progressive Group, he added, takes it roots from PNDC to the NDC and would not like to see the gains chalked through out the years, to be eroded due to the insensitivity of others towards the NDC party.

"It is for this reason that I decided to embark on these independent findings and let the party hierarchy know the situation on the ground," he said.

The SPG Chairman reminded all prospective parliamentary candidates of the call by the President in seeking the welfare of country as a whole and not to use their position for their selfish interests.

He also called on all supporters of the NDC to get themselves involved in the day to day campaign of the party as the elections draw nearer.