The Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party has threatened to haul party leaders who make inflammatory comments in the media in breach of the party's rules before its disciplinary committee for severe sanctions.

The Council says all grievances must be addressed internally rather than in the media.

It was responding to the rancorous debates that have surrounded the opposition party's March 1, elections to select new national officers in a statement issued in Accra.

The National Executive Committee of the party has decided to hold decentralised elections - a decision that has infuriated many leading members of the opposition party.

Former General Secretary and Member of Parliament for Okre, Dan Kweku Botwe said it was disgraceful for the executive to say the NPP could not hold a centralised delegates' conference because of financial contraints.

The divisive nature of the debate forced a meeting of the Council of Elders at a meeting on Thurday, January 30, 2014.

The elders directed "all candidates, and their supporters and sympathizers, to refrain from using impolitic and intemperate language". 

The meeting which was attended by elders such as Hackman Owusu Agyeman and Dr. Adjei Bawuah also called "for a total ceasefire at all levels of the party with immediate effect. Any party member who goes public on internal party matters shall be summoned before the disciplinary committee of the party" 

The Council further urged candidates not to lose sight of the bigger picture before the Party, which is to present a strong and united front, to effectively battle the NDC, come 2016.

"Accordingly the National Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party has invited some members for a meeting early next week, to assist the Body iron out whatever rough edges that might have arisen, in the run up to the Party’s national elections.

"The Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party takes this opportunity to assure all members that it takes decorum within the Party seriously, and will do everything within its power, as mandated by the Party’s constitution, to protect the unity and integrity of the Party".