The Greater Accra Constituency Secretaries Forum (GACSEF) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is appealing for caution in the party's attempt to expand the electoral college.

The Secretaries Forum, made up of 34 constituency secretaries, has therefore urged the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to maintain the current status of selecting party officers from the branches through to the National Executive Committee and defer the new proposals to congress for subsequent adoption and implementation.

This, according to the Forum, will better deal with the financial challenges identified as impediments to the smooth and coherent implementation of the proposals.

The request was made in a statement collectively released by members of the Forum in Accra and jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Forum.

 

Below is the full statement:                 

                  THE STATUS QUO MUST REMAIN FOR NOW

On the matter of the proposal espoused by the National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress, to be adopted by the party in respect of the attempt to consciously expand the electoral college of the party, the Greater Accra Constituency Secretaries Forum(GACSEF), whilst associating with the  noble intent intended to  make the party much more accessible to the grass root, enhance the sense of ownership and allow for wider participation of party faithful, is calling for caution and circumspection, in its implementation.

 It would be recalled that all constituencies across the country received proposals  in August from the National Executive Committee which among other things was to consider an increase of the branch  electoral roll from four(4) to nine(9) and to allow them an opportunity to vote to select constituency, regional, and national party  officers as well as candidates for general elections (parliamentary and presidential) or an option  to allow all registered  card bearing party members to participate in the decision-making of the party even with the selecting of a flag-bearer.

We think this is what has to happen in the party whose philosophy is Social Democracy that believes in the equality and the egalitarian treatment of all persons irrespective of their Social, Cultural, Educational, Political, Religious and Economic status.

The Secretaries Forum advisedly would urge the National Executive Committee to let the party adhere to the current status quo of selecting party officers from the branches through to the National Executive Committee and defer the proposals to congress for adoption and the implementation subsequently. This we believe will make room for time and the financial challenges which we have identified as impediments to the smooth and coherent implementation of these proposals.

I. Timing is of the essence in this regard as the party is obliged by the NDC constitution article 16(1) to hold constituency and other party office holders’ elections within twelve (12) months after every general election to elect party officers. We are of the opinion that at the current rate of party activities, this dates may not be adhered to and thus urge the National Executive Committee to relook at the programme of the party, to forestall any constitutional crisis.

ii. Economically, the proposal which also suggests the biometric registration of party people, would require a huge financial out lay, procurement of machines, training of personnel, mobilization and publicity etc and this we don’t see can be done efficiently in the limited time at our disposal now.

 

SIGNED                                                                       SIGNED

Victor Quarshie                                                             Mohammed Suka

Chairman                                                                     Secretary