A CALL TO ACTION

We of the North American Coordinating Council of the National Democratic Congress (NACC-NDC), being cognizant of the state of affairs in our homeland, confident that our party is poised to regain power in 2004, and believing that our party intends to organize a democratic congress on December 28th-29th 2001, make the following call to action:

1. Upcoming Congress: We deem this to be a pivotal event in the history of our party. The two overriding issues whose resolution will serve as a barometer of the future are the caliber of people we elect into national executive positions. Underlying events that culminated in our defeat at the last parliamentary and presidential election demand that we vote people of unblemished reputation into office. The second issue relates to the amendments to our Constitution. The national restructuring exercise was undertaken to collate views from all segments and cross sections of our dear party. Congress must therefore deliberate all issues raised in an atmosphere of civility and genuine respect. Our party comprise of cadres and academicians, grassroots, professionals, farmers, market women, indeed, a true representative sample of our population. Some of our members have stayed in office for the lifetime of our party and suffered from complacency, arrogance and fatigue. Others who have served the party in one capacity or the other still have more to contribute. Then again there is a groundswell of fresh people ripe for service.

Accordingly, congress must exercise due diligence in electing fresh new faces wherever appropriate, but not necessarily in all positions.

2. Strategizing for 2004: Elections 2004 will bring our party back into power if we plan and follow a winning strategy. The ruling party has shown weaknesses in many areas of governance. They have reneged on their campaign promises. It is our duty to provide inspirational repudiation of the lies and trickery that were heaped on our people in the last election. Our propaganda machinery must be managed in a scientific manner so as to take advantage of new political, advertising media and other dissemination tools. The strength of our party lies in the seamless integration of ideas and aspirations between the different components of the party. Congress must, therefore, strive to promote and encourage the atmosphere of conviviality within the fabric of the organization

3. Respect for each other, factions, different and divergent viewpoints: Given the nature and size of our party, it is inevitable that subgroups exist. For peaceful and purposeful coexistence to flourish, certain conditions must prevail, including the accordance of full respect for, recognition and acceptance of all members and groups in all deliberations of the party. No true Akatamansonian speaks ill of another. The supreme interest of the party supercedes all personal interests. The party is paramount, and personal objectives must therefore be subsumed within the goals of the party.

4. Harnessing and channeling individual and group skills and abilities: Each and every member of our party has something to offer. Resources in terms of skills, knowledge and abilities abound in our party. The party machinery must utilize these resources to attain its goals. Congress must, therefore, avail itself of this resource base by cataloguing, effectively harness and utilize this power.

5. Former President J. J. Rawlings:: The NDC is unique in the sense that it is one of the major parties whose founder is still living. His position as founder is incontrovertible. His charisma is legendary. He is the best asset of our party. Accordingly, opponents will engage in continuous attacks on his reputation and character with a view to weakening the party. Moreover, he has a lot to offer. Congress must therefore facilitate his continued contributions to our party and country by ensuring that his place in the party hierarchy is well delineated in terms of position, functions and responsibilities.

6. The Progressive Alliance: The alliance with EGLE, the DPP and the NDC should be maintained or enlarged, if possible, with the addition of more parties having similar goals and aspirations. Congress must facilitate the growth of the alliance by enhancing the framework so as to motivate more of such parties to join the alliance.

We congratulate our former flag bearer, Professor John Atta Mills, party hierarchy and its members for gracefully conceding defeat and accepting the results of the last elections when they did. By so doing they

enhanced the image of our party and country all over the world.

We also commend our sitting parliamentarians and the restructuring committee for the yeoman's job they have done thus far.

We applaud all members of the NDC both at home and abroad for upholding the rule of law.

Ebby Koney, ESQ
Chairman, NACC-NDC
North America