The Standing Committee of the party at its first meeting held the party head office in Accra on Saturday 17 March, 2012 and attended by the former Flag Bearer, Dr. Edward Mahama, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan (Chairman & Leader), Hassan Abdulai Ayariga (2012 Flag bearer) and other members discussed matters pertinent to the progress of the Party. 1. Formation of sub-committees The National Standing Committee used the occasion to compose membership of eight (8) Sub-committees. These sub-committees will assist the National Executives in the work of the party. Committees are given rights to co-opt experts or other persons whose knowledge would enhance their work. 2. Parliamentary primaries-regions The Standing Committee received reports from the Regions regarding Parliamentary Primaries. The Standing committee was not pleased with preparations so far and urged the Regions to ensure that candidates for constituencies are elected by March 30, 2012. The Standing Committee has also instructed the Regional Chairman of the Upper East Region to ensure that elections in eleven electoral areas (whose executives are doubted by a parliamentary aspirant) in the Bolgatanga constituency are organized by March 24, 2012 to pave way for the Constituency primaries by the end of March 2012. Hon Moses Dani Baah was tasked to use his knowledge of the constituency to assist the region in dealing with the issue. 3. Biometric exercise. National officers would be assigned to various Regions during the period of the Biometric Registration exercise to assist in the campaign for members to register. The Standing Committee therefore has tasked the Regions to participate fully in the exercise. The Standing Committee was however disappointed that the Electoral Commission “Nowadays” conducts IPAC meetings without invitation to the PNC. It urged that for democracy to survive, the Electoral Commission must avoid selective invitations. The Standing Committee also implores the Electoral Commission to device mechanism that would facilitate Voter Transfers after the registration exercise. Particularly for those who are in School during the registration but might have completed their programmes of study and posted elsewhere during the elections to enable such people vote since it is not by choice that they find themselves in that predicament. 4. Call for United Front Finally, the Standing Committee applauded the rank and file of the party for the maturity displayed at the last National Delegates’ Congress. The Congress is adjudged the best since 1992. In this regard the high spirits that characterized congress should be improved for the coming elections. Bernard Mornah General Secretary