NDC CONSTITUTION REVIEW EXERCISE INTRODUCTION As part of measures to deepen the democratic culture within the National Democratic Congress, and encourage wider participation by the general body of the party in the decision making process, a number of articles in the NDC Constitution have been indentified for review and amendment. Hitherto decision making in respect of the party leadership at the National, Regional and Constituency levels have been limited to an electoral college predetermined by the Constitution. The current arrangement does not encourage a broader participation by the rank and file in determining who occupies executive positions at various levels and also parliamentary positions. In order to encourage broader participation and in the process revamp the party Structures right from the bottom to the top, a new party registration and voting process is to be introduced. CONSULTATIVE PROCESS The national party leadership has directed that these proposed reforms should be subjected to a nationwide consultative process to elicit views and suggestions to be factored into a comprehensive review of the NDC Constitution. In line with this, the NDC Constitution Review Committee chaired by Mr. Ken Dzrasah, will embark on a nationwide tour to interact with identified leaders from the Constituency and Regional Parties in order to generate the necessary inputs towards the Constitutional review exercise. The consultative meeting for each region will be held I the regional capital. The Hon. Regional Minister for the Region and the Regional Party chairman will be expected to co-ordinate the meeting. The following delegates will be invited to the meeting: (a) Three Representative of each Constituency (b) The 17 functional executive committee members of the Region (c) District Chief Executive (d) Member of Parliament for each Constituency in the Region Indicated below is a list of topics that will be discussed at the proposed meetings. Each Constituency Executive Committee and Regional Executive Committee will be required to closely study the areas proposed for discussion and put together their recommendations on the topics to be discussed. From the constituencies the recommendations must be sent to the Regional Chairman whose responsibility it shall be to collate and summarize the various views. The regional paper which emanates from this will be tabled for discussion at the proposed regional consultative forum. The Constitution Review Committee proposes the following for consideration and guidance for the Constituencies and the Regions. These proposals are by no means exhaustive. Constituencies and the Regions are at liberty to introduce amendments to other areas of the constitution which have not been covered by this paper. The Constitution Review Committee proposes the following for the consideration and guidance for the Constituencies and the Regions. These proposals are by no means exhaustive. Constituencies and the Regions are at liberty to introduce amendments to other areas of the constitution which have not been covered by this paper. PROPOSALS 1) Branch Registration/Elections a) A 3 member registration/election Committee to be constituted at the branch level. b) Members of this Committee are not entitled to contest the elections they oversee c) Constituency Executive Committee shall designate supervisors/monitors from the Constituency to supervise/monitor branch registration/elections. d) Registration period to last for one week at all branches. e) Provision to be made for updating the register every four years. f) Discuss functions of the registration every supervisors/monitors. g) Who qualifies to be registered? h) Redefinition of registration / polling centre. This does not necessarily have to be coterminous with EC’s definition. The intention is to put a number of polling centres together in order to minimize logistical challenges. i) Provision to be made for candidates’ agents. j) Each branch shall compile own register. k) Registration automatically entitles member to hold party card. l) Registration shall be biometric. m) Registration at branch level to entitle member to vote at branch, constituency, regional and choice of parliamentary and presidential candidates. n) Bring up proposals that will prevent individuals from manipulating the registration and electoral process for obvious reasons. o) Both Constituency/Regional Executive elections shall be conducted at the Constituency level at the same time. The rules governing the registration and election at the branch level shall apply to the Constituency Regional as may be appropriate. p) The general proposal is that all registered party members should vote in Constituency/Regional Executive elections to be held at the branch level. There is however concern over the logistical and supervision challenges that this “: universal suffrage” may entail. For the purposes of the discussions, delegates are invited to consider, choose or discard any of the alternatives indicated below: 1) Creation of only one polling centre at Constituency headquarters for 9 branch executives from each branch to vote during Constituency/Regional executive elections 2) All registered members to come to constituency headquarters to cast their votes in Constituency/Regional executive elections. 3) About 4 or 5 polling stations are to be merged into one polling centre for the conduct of Constituency/Regional executive elections. NATIONAL ELECTIONS q) The Presidential and Parliamentary candidate’s election and the National Executive elections shall for the purpose of the Constitution be classified as National elections. r) All registers to be collated by the Constituency Executives from branches are to be kept at the Constituency level with copies sent to the Regional and National offices of the party. This will also be used for the National Elections. s) Comments are also invited on the proposition that all National elections are to be conducted at the Constituency level involving all registered members. t) Delegates are also expected to deliberate on the proposal that an incumbent President who contested the election on the ticket of the Party is entitled to an automatic second term unless he declines. u) It is suggested that the Council of Elders structure be replicated at both the Regional and Constituency levels. Delegates are invited to consider what role to assign to them. v) It is also proposed that membership of the Elders is expanded to cover all past Chairmen, past General Secretaries and other functionaries. w) It is further proposed that the position of Chair, Council of elders be elective. There is the need to introduce some flexibility in the choice as to who occupies the Chair. While the current arrangement whereby the founding father of the Party as the automatic chair of the Council may have worked well so far, provision ought to be made for a future vacancy of that chair or for a situation where an incumbent may not be able or willing to preside as Chairman. The Hon. Regional Ministers and Regional Party Chairmen are kindly entreated to pass on the above information to the appropriate bodies and request their response within the shortest possible time (preferably within 10 days). The Constitution Review Committee will subsequently circulate the itinerary for the regional tours expected to commence in July. In anticipation of your urgent attention we wish to express our appreciation and thanks for your time. Please acknowledge receipt by telephone.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:07:09 +0000
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