An aspiring presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Mr Dan Botwe, resigns as the Chairman of the Research and Strategic Committee of the party with immediate effect. In a letter of resignation to the National Chairman, Mr. Peter Mac Manu, the former General Secretary explained that the resignation was to enable him concentrate on pursuing and organizing his flagbearership campaign. Later in an interview with the GNA, Mr Botwe said his resignation was based on principles, "as the Chairman of the Research Committee, Article 9 of the NPP Constitution automatically qualifies me as a member of the Vetting Committee.” The Vetting Committee examines and scrutinizes the candidature of every presidential aspirant for nomination of the Party to ensure that “such person qualifies for the office of the Republic." The statement said: "As an ardent adherent of the rule of law, I cannot be a player and a referee at the same time, I have decided after due consultation with the rank and file of the party to run for the high office of a Presidential Candidate and later become the President of Ghana, I humbly and respectively reign my position for fairness sake." He however, assured the numerous NPP sympathizers and supporters that his resignation was in the supreme interest of the party and also to respond to their call for him to lead the party as the Presidential Candidate for Elections 2008. "Am firmly embedded in the NPP agenda, especially to continue the good works after President John Agyekum Kufuor's end of tenure, we must handover to an NPP Presidential Candidate-elect, Ghanaians need us to continue in power and we must not disappoint them, I stand out among the rest," Mr Botwe asserted. Source: GNA