Tamale, Jan. 18, GNA - The Executive body of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region has commended the media and security personnel for their immense contribution in making the party's Congress in Tamale a success.

Alhaji Imoro Issifu Alhassan Umar, Regional Secretary of the party, told the GNA in an interview on Monday that, "We owe the media, the security personnel and the people of Tamale a great gratitude for helping the NDC to emerge stronger from the congress." He said while the media did not misreport events, the security personnel ensured that there was order and they expertly controlled traffic to the last minute without any hitch, and gave the assurance that the NDC would continue to chart peaceful paths for others to emulate.

He explained that though the delegates and party supporters comported themselves, if the media had sent negative and wrong signals to the outside world, and if the security had messed up, tempers would have gone high to mar the event. "I take this opportunity to thank all delegates, the people of Tamale and all who contributed in any way to the success of the congress.

This is to tell the whole world that Tamale is peaceful and any form of investment could be located here to give our youth employment," he said. He said the NDC's detractors were disappointed by the outcome of the congress, and reiterated President John Evans Atta Mills' call on party members to remain focused to retain power in 2012.

Alhaji Umar attributed the success of the event to the establishment of sub-committee structures at both regional and national levels which, according to him, played their roles creditably. He said the only problem that they faced was accreditation for the media, some delegates, Members of Parliament and District Chief Executives but attributed the problem to the late arrival in Tamale by the accreditation committee from Accra. He apologized on behalf of the party to those who might have suffered in any form during the course of the congress saying, "We should all forget and forgive for the interest of nation-building."

The NDC held a successful National Delegates' Congress in Tamale from the 15-17 January where it retained its winning team and

chose other leaders to join the old ones aimed at retaining power in 2012. Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia retained their positions as National Chairman and General Secretary respectively,

while Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, Mr. Kofi Portophy, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbarh, Alhaji Said

Sinare and Danny Annang, all won the position of Vice Chairman. The position of National Treasurer went to Mr. Kamel Noshie who polled 1,501 votes to beat Mr. Yussif Abdel Adiss who got 350 votes. Mr. Richard Quarshiga polled 1,270 to beat Mr. Allotey Jacobs who obtained 437 votes for the position of National Propaganda Secretary.

Five members were also elected out of 15 candidates as National Executive Committee (NEC) members. They are, Mr. Abu Minta Sadat, Madam Victoria Kuma, Mr. John Owusu Agyemang, Dr E.K. Hayford and Mr. Richard Lantey Lawson.

Mr. Yaw Gyan and Madam Betty Agbornobor were declared unopposed for the positions of National Organiser and Deputy Organiser respectively.

Dr Adjei, the re-elected National Chairman, thanked delegates for the confidence reposed in them by renewing their mandate for the next four years. He promised that the new executive would work in unity to promote the advancement of the party and the welfare of its foot soldiers. Expressing the confidence that the NDC would win the elections in 2012, Dr Adjei appealed to members to forgive and forget all differences and forge ahead in unity.