Accra, July 11, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday cautioned its party members and supporters to exercise restraint and political maturity in their efforts to elect parliamentary candidates in the primaries.

It asked those contemplating, demonstrations or protest against elected candidates to give democracy a chance to grow in the party. Dr. Nii Josiah Aryeh, General Secretary of the party in a statement on NDC position on conduct of parliamentary primaries said: "The attention of the National Executive Committee of the party has been drawn to disquieting feedback from some constituencies with regards to the results of primaries held to elect parliamentary candidates for the December 2004 general elections.

He said the party wished, "to assure all members and supporters that the choices made by various constituencies for such parliamentary candidates will be respected so long as the persons so elected are Ghanaians who qualify for such positions under the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana as well as under the NDC Party Constitution. "The persons so elected must also have satisfied the Guidelines issued by the Party for the conduct of the primaries and such primaries should have been conducted and supervised by the Electoral Commission." Dr. Aryeh said those persons to be elected, "should not have any criminal records against them, nor should they have attained the vote by fraudulent means."

It is the candid decision of the party to accept the candidate who emerges as the choice of the constituency and work with him towards victory in the general elections.

He advised that instead of demonstrations and protests it was better for those energies and resources to be used to secure harmony in the party and to work together in unity to win the December general elections.

Dr. Aryeh said it was advisable for winners in the primaries, "to extend a hand of co-operation and reconciliation to their fellow contestants and their supporters so that together we all build a winsome team capable of facing the challenges of the upcoming elections.

"Ours is a nation built upon equality and recognition of the God-given talents of all Ghanaians," he added.