Ho, Jan. 11, GNA - Mr Steve Akorli, former Minister of Roads and Highways during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government and currently the Volta Regional Second Vice Chairman of the party has resigned from the party with immediate effect.

Mr Akorli, who was also Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho-East for three terms said he decided to quit the party because he could not reconcile himself to belong to a group "where indiscipline is rewarded rather than punished."

In a letter dated January 11, 2006 to the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC and copied to the media, Mr Akorli said his decision was "rather painful" having served the Party "faithfully in the past 13 years" but maintained that developments in the NDC stood against certain "principles of life that I hold dear to myself."

Mr Akorli expressed disgust at the situation in the party where members who in the past stood and worked against party candidates during elections, contrary to party regulations, rather than being punished, "suddenly become darling boys and are catapulted to high offices because they have the support of big Whigs in the party."

"This is a tenet that seems to be unbecoming and completely runs contrary to my personal belief and training.

"I believe such members should not be encouraged to seek high offices in the party but that seem to be the trend and the acceptable conduct if only to unseat a hated but disciplined member," Mr Akorli stated.

In another development, Mr Johnson R, Dabo Volta Regional First Vice Chairman of the NDC has also announced his resignation from the party because the party has "deviated from its democratic principles". He said he was compelled under the circumstances to quit "in my own interest and that of my family and admirers."

Mr Dabo, who said his resignation took effect from January 11, this year, said he wished the "party the best of luck in the years ahead with the hope that the party would embark upon a thorough house cleaning exercise to redeem its image."