The Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President Jerry John Rawlings, has called on all stakeholders to respect the structures of the party and channel their grievances through them. In a congratulatory message to all delegates who participated in the just ended eight national delegates’ congress of the party, he said the refusal to channel grievances through the party had allowed some opportunists to take advantage of the situation. "I know there have been complaints of some party leaders refusing to open their doors to constituency executives and other members who have grievances or contributions. I am convinced, however, that after the success of the congress and the election of fresh and dynamic persons into the National Executive, these weaknesses will be matters of the past. The former president asked members of the newly elected executive to ensure that they abided by their oaths of office and did not suffocate the will of the people by ignoring concerns and suggestions made by various departments of the party and members. Former President Rawlings also encouraged individual members to channel their grievances through constituency executives, who would in turn channel them through the regional executives to the national executives. "It is important that we allow party structures to work because that is why we have elected people into office. If we allow a situation where individuals direct issues straight to government, it may lead to the weakening of the party structure and create mistrust between the party and the government,” he said. "I wish to congratulate all members of the NDC, particularly delegates at the Tamale congress, on the manner in which they conducted themselves and voted with their conscience. The success of the congress is not an end in itself. We need to help the new executives to succeed by respecting and recognising the role they play in the party." Former President Rawlings, however, noted that party members should not hesitate to criticise and expose executives who failed to respect the ideals of the party or made themselves inaccessible to the membership of the party. "They have been elected to serve your interests and it is imperative that they are exposed if they fail to do so." He also thanked and commended members across the country for electing dynamic and progressive people to occupy executive positions at the constituency and regional levels of the party. Source: Daily Graphic