Kumasi (Ashanti), 7 Dec. ’98 – The Democratic People’s Party (DPP) held its third national delegates congress in Kumasi on Saturday and retained all its core national executives in an election. They are Mr Daniel K. G. Markin, National Chairman, Alhaji Kassim Zakari, first national chairman and Mr Lawrence Honu, general secretary. The elections were supervised by Madam Elizabeth Solomon, a member of the Electoral Commission. The congress appointed Dr. John Akuffo as the second national chairman, Mr George Osei Ampem, as deputy general secretary, Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, as national treasurer, and Mr Albert Antwi Nuamah as national youth organiser. The congress which was attended by 546 delegates, made up of two each from the 200 constituencies, the regional executive and the central executive committee, was held under the theme “Towards 2000 and beyond”. Solidarity messages from President Jerry John Rawlings, leader of the Progressive Alliance, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Egle Party, Veranda Boys and Girls Club, the 31st December Women’s Movement and the Progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) were read. In a resolution, the DPP endorsed President Rawlings’ choice of Professor John Evans Atta Mills as flag bearer of the Progressive Alliance for the 2000 elections. The resolution said that the declaration by President Rawlings at Swedru was not wrong, neither was it unconstitutional nor could it be declared undemocratic. The delegates stated that the DPP was happy and also appreciative of Professor Mills’ work and that he has the requisite integrity and qualities needed to lead the progressive alliance into victory in the next general elections. “It is the democratic right of President Rawlings to express his convictions and opinion about any persons, matter and process and that his personal fundamental right is protected by sections 12 and 13 of the 1992 constitution”, the resolution added. Speaking on the Value Added Tax (VAT), Mr Ekwow Spio Garbrah, Minister of Education, assured Ghanaians that VAT will not lead to any price hikes but will rather make life more bearable for Ghanaians. He announced that a list of recommended prices of commodities will be drawn to serve as a guide and help avoid the temptation of deliberate attempts at undermining the laudable VAT system.
