Former President Jerry John Rawlings has urged members of the party he founded, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to uphold the values of truth, transparency and accountability.

He said these were social democratic credentials and must never be allowed to wane or be sacrificed for any parochial interests.

The Former President was addressing the party's eighth national delegates congress at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday.

More than 3,600 delegates have gathered at the place to vote in new officers to lead the NDC to battle in 2016.

President John Mahama and his Vice, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, are among those in attendance.

Mr. Rawlings told the delegates to ensure that they give to the party, leaders who would work to maintain its cherished values to re-energize it ahead of the 2016 general polls.

He cautioned against hypocrisy and said all must face up to the reality of the prevailing situation. The party could not play the ostrich by overlooking the challenges confronting the political and economic management of the country, he said.

He warned that the party’s own internal weaknesses, rather than external enemies, were the ones that could destroy it.

Former President Rawlings reminded party menbers to do everything to remain united to promote the good name of the party.