Parliament swears in Mr. Amissah-Arthur as Vice President

Mr. Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur was on Monday evening sworn-in as Vice President of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with Article 60 (10) of the 1992 Constitution.

Parliament had earlier unanimously approved his nomination after a vetting process by the Appointments Committee of the House, where the nominee was asked questions ranging from the falling value of the Cedi, his political clout, his sexuality and macroeconomics.

Mr. Amissah-Arthur took the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of the Vice President administered by the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, affirming to uphold the sovereignty and the constitution of the Ghana.

He expressed appreciation to the President, John Mahama, for his nomination and to Parliament for demonstrating unity in approving him as Vice President.

"I thank the House for doing something unprecedented in the history of Ghana…..The show of unanimity and unity by Parliament as a result of the sad event that occurred is commendable", he said.

The Vice President extended a hand of friendship to "the many people across the countries, who have sent messages of goodwill" adding that, "I hope I would continue to receive your prayers".

Speaker Joyce Bamford-Addo congratulated Mr. Amissah-Arthur on his assumption of the office, saying, "on this momentous occasion, we wish you well in your service to mother Ghana".

She adjourned the House to tomorrow, August 7, 2012.

Before the swearing-in, Chairman of the Appointments Committee and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho, who presented the report of the Committee before the House, said the committee, was satisfied that the Vice President Designate had met all the conditions set out by the Constitution.

He said the Committee had carried out its duty diligently according to the dictates of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament and thus proposed that the House approved Mr Amissah-Arthurs nomination, a statement that drew loud cheers of consensus from both sides of the House.

 Minority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu in seconding the motion by the Committee Chairman said the resource of Parliament committed to the unprecedented process would be a useful platform to launch future process should such happenstance occur in the history of the country.

Mr. Amissah-Arthur, an economist, was appointed by the late President John Evans Atta Mills as Governor of the Bank of Ghana on the October 1, 2009 to replace Dr Paul Acquah, who had retired.

He was nominated Vice President per Constitutional requirements by President John Mahama.

 

GNA

NPP to tackle corruption through principled leadership

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday indicated that the next government under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's leadership would tackle corruption through a principled leadership that would focus on protecting the public purse.

"Nana Akufo-Addo commits himself to running a government that would give value for money and tackle corruption with vigour and sincerity, spending public money must be seen and treated as a sacred trust especially by politicians and public servants, in general.      

"NPP Government will introduce institutional reforms that will enhance the autonomy, confidence and funding of statutory anti-corruption institutions," an electronic statement made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra by Mr. Asare Otchere-Darko, DI Executive Director stated.   

Quoting from NPP's Election 2012 Manifesto which would be launched on August 25, Mr. Otchere-Darko said the manifesto begins with a bold statement which aims at strengthening the institutions of governance so that they work without undue political interference.    

He said the manifesto's introductory page sets out what Ghanaians should expect from the next NPP Government: "Our vision is to create a society of opportunities for the Ghanaian people.  

 "We recognise that the quality of our nation will be determined by the quality of our people. This means a Ghana that will put the welfare and wellbeing of the people first, enabling them to achieve their aspirations.   

"A transformed economy is key to this happening, quality education, good healthcare services, skills and knowledge for our children, world-class infrastructure and decent housing are fundamental to building a society of opportunities for every Ghanaian".     

Mr. Otchere-Darko said the NPP's manifesto sought to industrialise and add value to the economy.    

"It is this necessary economic paradigm shift that will open up our economy to offer Ghanaians the opportunities, confidence and incentives to live a prosperous life. Ghana must work and we must get it to work for the people.

 "The driving philosophy of the next NPP Government would be the transformation of Ghana, supported by a value-for-money administration of public funds". 

The party believes that for it to succeed in meeting the growing demands for access to public goods, such as good education, good healthcare, a more efficient police service and infrastructure, it must be deliberate and disciplined in ensuring that public funds are spent responsibly and public contracts are negotiated in the supreme interest of the state.
The NPP promises to "transform the way our children are educated" and sets out the plan for free, quality public education from Kindergarten to Senior High School, with the training, conditions of service and supervision by and of the teacher at the centre of the new education policy.   

On empowering the private sector, the NPP manifesto lamented over what the party saw as the "unpardonable neglect" of the private sector in Ghana under the NDC; the NPP aims to increase significantly the current level of public-private-partnership, more so in the provision of electricity, water, and transportation, including roads, railways and aviation. 

To the Ghanaian private sector, which is in distress, with low business and consumer confidence, the NPP Manifesto assures the electorates that the party understands business. 

 "It would be bold in empowering local businesses, particularly manufacturers, road contractors, farmers and real estate developers, to grow and capture a dominant portion of the domestic market and compete in international markets.    

 "The NPP has a programme to cut down on red tape, while empowering regulatory bodies to enhance standards of service providers and ensure value-for-money for customers.

 "Doing business would also be made easier with a proper address system for our communities, investing in IT-enhanced services in the public sector and implementing the national ID card project," the statement stated.

On decentralisation, the next NPP Government would work on devolving more power and increasing accountability at the district level.

On waste management, NPP plans to introduce cutting edge green innovations which would turn our waste, including plastic waste, into electricity to feed the national grid, fertilizer for farming and roofing sheets for building construction, for example.

The NPP said it had no intention to reinvent the wheel, "We will only work hard and smart to implement in Ghana the socio-economic policies that have made nations industrialise and competitive and the lives of their people better".

On the economy, the NPP manifesto saw the structural transformation of the Ghanaian economy to be paramount, and "We will provide the leadership, right policies and effective management to make it happen.

"We cannot enrich the lives of the Ghanaian by continuing to export our raw cocoa beans, our mined gold, our drilled oil, our sawed timber and other raw materials without adding value.  

 "We also cannot keep importing even the simplest things we use when we can and should manufacture them here. Our small businesses must be actively supported to get working and producing, thriving and growing to become bigger and better, serving Ghana and beyond".
   

The NPP sees farming as crucial to its transformation programme, "Primarily, transforming the Ghanaian economy means transforming agriculture. We will make farming work for the farmer by supporting, not only the big commercial farmer, but also the small and medium scale farmer. 

We will increase production and value in the agricultural sector to create jobs, make Ghana self-sufficient in food and a major agro-based industrial nation in our region," the 2012 NPP Manifesto stated. 

NPP Election 2012 Manifesto Committee is chaired by Professor Yaw Twumasi, who also chairs the Governing Board of the Danquah Institute.
 
  

GNA

 

 

 

CODEO Pre-Election Environment Observation Report for July, 2012

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) is pleased to release its Observation Report on the pro-election environment for the month of July.  This is the second in the series of CODEO's monthly reports based on weekly reports filed by CODEO's 50 pre-election Field Observers (FOs) WHO HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO 100 DISTRICTS IN OVER 100 Constituencies throughout the country.

CODEO Field Observers (OFs) report that political activities at the local levels generally grinded to a halt when news about the death of the President, Professor J.E.A. Mills on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, hit the various parts of the country.  During the month of July, however, CODEO observed that until the ruling by the Human Rights Court in Accra on Friday, July 27, 2012, political parties were gearing up for by-elections in Wulensi and Kwabre West Constituencies.  Political parties were also gearing up to select candidates for the Electoral Commission (EC)'s proposed 45 new constituencies which are yet to be created.  During the period, CODEO observers noted that some newly-registered voters were yet to be issued with their laminated Voter ID cards, even as the EC carried out residual Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) in Akuse in the Eastern Region amidst challenges and protests.

CODEO further observed that the media continued to be a major platform for political parties to discuss key national issues.  Campaigning activities by presidential and parliamentary aspirants were generally characterised by calm and peaceful atmosphere while political parties incorporated peace messages into their campaign activities.  There was close collaboration between key local level election stakeholders on activities intended to promote a peaceful and credible general elections.  The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) carried out civic education for first-time voters in some constituencies observed, while CODEO noted attempts by some community leaders to unduly influence and interfere with the exercise of the constitutional right to vote.

Prior to the ruling on Friday, July 27, 2012 by the Human rights Court in Accra in favour of a suit jointly filed by three political parties namely, National democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) which sought to restrain the EC from holding by-elections in Wulensi and Kwabre West constituencies with the old voter register, frantic preparations were being made by various political parties, including some of those which filed the court case, towards their participation in the elections.  The Progressive People's Party (PPP) which did not join the court action for instance embarked on vigorous campaign activities in the two constituencies.  The EC, on its part, had continued with preparations to hold the by-elections.

Ahead of an approval by Parliament following the submission of the EC's request for the creation of 45 new constituencies, political parties and some individuals were seen making open and, sometime subtle, preparations towards the selection of parliamentary candidates for the new constituencies.  In the Asante Akim North Constituency in the Ashanti Region, for example, CODEO observed that some party activists of the NDC and NPP were actively and openly campaigning and lobbying for parliamentary candidatures to contest an expected new constituency.

 Some people who could not get their BVR ID cards due to inadequate laminates during the nationwide exercise are yet to receive their cards.  Even though the EC's district office in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Constituency in the Central Region gave out some laminated Voter ID Cards in Kokoben, there appears to be no clear plan for distributing the outstanding BVR cards.  This was the case in the Upper Denkyira East and Upper Denkyira West Constituencies where the district EC is hoping to give out the cards as and when the owners show up at their office, or give them out during the voter register exhibition exercise.

Turnout at the residual biometric registration exercise at Akuse was relatively low.  The exercise was fraught with tension and was initially disrupted in a few of the registration centres by some people protesting against the exercise.  Some of these people were later arrested by the Police and security for the area was beefed up.  At the end of the exercise, about 2,782 people registered.  The EC carried out a late registration exercise for potential voters in Akuse in the Eastern Region since it could not do so during the main registration exercise.  The delay resulted from a pending court case in the area.  The exercise, which was organised following the judgment of the Supreme Court that placed Akuse in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region, took place in six registration centres.  The CODEO FO suspects that turn-out was not impressive because some residents from Akuse might have registered in nearby registration centres during the main registration exercise as they did not want to get disenfranchised in the face of uncertainties brought about by the then impending court case.

CODEO observed that the media continued to be a major platform where representatives of political parties discussed key national issues.  Generally, CODEO'S FOs reported that media discussions especially on radio centred on the creation of new constituencies by the EC, judgment debts, and the death of the President.  Generally, CODEO has observed a reduction in the use of insulting language, hate speech and incitement on the airwaves.

CODEO further observed that campaign activities by presidential and parliamentary candidates of some political parties especially the NPP and the NDC were generally peaceful.  The various candidates took the opportunity to canvass the electorate for their votes in the December polls.  The NPP's flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo continued with his campaign tours in the Brong Ahafo and Central Regions.  In the Eastern Region, the NDC's parliamentary candidate for Abuakwa North Constituency, Hon Victor Smith who is also the Eastern Regional Minister, launched his campaign at Akyem Tafo, CODEO's FOs indicated that the language used during these campaign activities was generally temperate.  No violent incident was also reported by CODEO FOs.  Campaign activities however virtually came to a halt in many parts of the country following the death of the President.  For example, CODEO FO for Lower Manya Constituency in the Eastern Region reports that at a rally organised by the NPP parliamentary aspirant at Agomenya on Tuesday, July 24, people started leaving the rally ground as soon as news reached them that the President had passed on.  The rally was thus brought to an abrupt closure.

 Political parties have been urging their supporters to be peace-minded and are infusing peace messages into their campaign and general political activities.  Some of these activities that CODEO FOs noted included intra-party sporting events and keep-fit exercises, campaign rallies and inauguration activities, among others.  In the Juaboso Constituency in the Western Region, the NPP Constituency Chairperson at a football gala organised by its youth wing urged party supporters especially the youth to seek peace during the elections.  At a clean-up exercise by the NPP Women's Wing in Seikwa in the Tain Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, the NPP's parliamentary candidate urged supporters to desist from words that do not promote peace.  At an NCCE organised peace march in the Atiwa Constituency in the Eastern Region, the NPP's sitting MP and the NDC's parliamentary candidate for the constituency jointly led a walk through some principal streets in the area.

CODEO also noted close collaboration between the NCCE, the EC and other civic groups such as religious bodies, traditional authorities, and political parties on the electoral process and the role of the electorate in promoting credible and peaceful elections.  In the Ashanti Region for example, the Regional and Municipal directors of the NDDC met the Bekwai Traditional Council to discuss how to conduct the general elections peacefully in the municipality.  Similarly collaborative programmes with the EC and NCCE were held in Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region, Nkoranza North and Dormaa West Constituencies in the Brong Ahafo Region and Kwahu South in the Eastern Region.

 The NCCE continued with civic education activities in various districts and constituencies on the electoral process.  For example, the Commission educated first-time registered student voters in some second cycle institutions in the Keta Constituency in the Volta Region and Jaman South Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region on their rights and responsibilities and on the electoral process particularly with regard to the importance of the voter ID card, the exhibition of the voters' register, and election offences.

CODEO's FOs in the Brong Ahafo Region reported the conduct of some persons that has the potential of interfering with the constitutional right to vote.  In the Nkoranza North Constituency, for example, the CODEO FO reported that the Chief of Busunya, at a press conference organised by the youth from the area, indicated that if his community does not see any development ahead of the general elections, he will advise his subjects not to vote and the spirits of the gods and rivers in the area would be invoked upon subjects who go ahead to vote.

 As indicated in the previous report for May/June, CODEO continues to monitor progress on Police action on some violent incidents recorded during the BVR exercise.  Information gathered from the Police sources on the state of investigations and prosecution of some of these cases reveal a slow process of bringing perpetrators to account for their actions.  Since the June 2012 report, and after almost four months since the incidents occurred, the Police are yet to complete investigations and prepare for prosecution of suspects.  For example, in the West Mamprusi District in the Northern Region, the Police have not been able to get a statement from a key personality who is also the NDC's parliamentary candidate for the area in an incident that took place at Arigu.  As a result, the Police have not taken further action on the matter.

In the Odododiodio Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, the Police are yet to complete the process of investigations in a violent incident involving Ms Ursula Owusu, the NPP's parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South Constituency in the same Region.  CODEO is also monitoring Police action on other BVR-related cases such as the incident in Ahenbronomu, Tafo-Pankrono in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region allegedly involving some macho men who caused destruction to registration materials and assaulted EC officials, as well as the incident in a registration centre in Sabieh in the Tain Constituency in which the NPP's parliamentary candidate for the area was allegedly involved.

CODEO commends key stakeholders such as civil society, the media, traditional authorities, religious bodies, political parties, the NCCE and the EC for their various efforts at promoting peace and ensuring that the outcomes of the general elections are credible.

Political parties for ceasing all campaign activities in respect of the sudden death of the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.  On this note, CODEO takes this opportunity to express its condolences to the family of the late President, the NDC party which he led until his death, and the entire nation.

CODEO recommends that the EC should take appropriate steps to publicly inform those who are yet to receive their voter ID cars on when and where to pick up their cards.  The EC may do this by liaising with the Information Services Department to announce the availability of the cards for collection by the registrants at designated EC collection centres.  CODEO further recommends to the EC that it should endeavour to release voter ID cards of all registered voters before the Exhibition of the provisional BVR register.

 The general public and especially people in positions of power such as traditional leaders should desist from unduly intimidating, influencing, or discouraging the electorates from voting on polling day.  Actions of such persons may constitute an electoral offence under Section 35 of the Representation of the People Law 1992 (PNDCL 284) as amended.  Communities can legitimately express their discontent with lack of development in their community and call on duty bearers to fulfil their promises, but should desist from issuing threats and resorting to other undemocratic behavior.

Political parties and other stakeholders should intensify efforts at promoting peace among their supporters.

CODEO continues to follow up on election-related violence incidents that occurred during the BVR exercise.  It is imperative that the Police dedicated the necessary resources to support a speedy investigation of election-related violent cases if they (the Police) seek to send the right signal to the public.

GNA

Political parties urged to use dialogue-based approaches to address electoral disagreements

Mr. Emmanuel Bombande, Executive Secretary of West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP), on Thursday encouraged political parties to use dialogue-based approaches in dealing with electoral disagreement to ensure peace in the country.

This, he said, should be done at the national, regional, district and constituency levels in the country.

Mr. Bombande was speaking on the topic: "Peace Before, during and after Elections 2012 In Ghana: A Shared Responsibility" at a Peace Forum organised by the International Fellowship Programme (IFP) in Accra.

 The programme, which was in collaboration with the IFP Alumni Association of Ghana (IFPAAG) on the theme: "Global Peace in the 21^st Century, the Role of the Social Justice Advocate in Ghana" was the organisation's contribution towards the road map to peaceful election 2012.

Mr. Bombande said it was important for supporters of various political parties to accept winning or losing an election as part of life and agree to the outcome of election results to ensure peace during the elections.

 "We have no choice as a country, than to have peaceful elections coming 2012, the development of the country accounts for in the past three years were because we have managed and maintain a peaceful election in 2008. We would not have been here today if we were to experience war during the last election" he said.

 He indicated that for elections to be peaceful there was the need to clearly define the roles of the various stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission (EC), Security Agencies and the media to avoid interference with each other.

 "We must look at the role of the media on the Election Day to the declaration of results; they should always ensure that the results they give out to the public are provisional"

According to him, the media should be held accountable to the ethics of their profession, expressing disapproval at certain practices where journalists with media organisations owned by political parties neglected their duties that require them to protect the interest of the people.

 "Allowing such things to happen in the media landscape amount to irresponsibility on the part of the journalist," he added.

 Mr. Bombande also disagree on the use of "macho men" on an election day at various polling stations to maintain peace and order because most people might have wrong impression about such men, "it is the responsibility of security agencies to maintain peace on an election day, not macho men".

Mr. David Kangah, immediate past Deputy Chairman of the EC, said it was necessary to begin peace advocacy at the fundamental level, especially in children in various schools so they could also embrace peace in the future. The Ford Foundation IFP provides opportunities for advanced study to exceptional individuals, who will use their education to become leaders in their respective field, furthering development in their own countries and greater economic and social justice worldwide. Ghana has been part of this programme with 108 current beneficiaries.

GNA

Amissah-Arthur to be vetted on August 6

Mr Kwesi B. Amissah-Arthur, Governor of the Bank of Ghana and President John Dramani Mahama's Vice Presidential nominee would be vetted in public by the Appointments Committee on Monday, August 6.     

Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader said the decision was taken at the Committee's meeting on Wednesday, after President Mahama had notified Parliament of the nomination.

He told the GNA in an interview that the Committee would begin considering the nominee at 0900 hours on Monday, expecting the process to end by 1400 hours, after which a report would be forwarded to the plenary session of Parliament for approval on the same day.

 Mr Mensah-Bonsu said because of the expedient nature of a Vice President for the country, the Committee had decided to truncate the normal processes for vetting, beginning with advertising for the public to immediately start submitting their inputs and memoranda on the nominee to the Committee within five days, ending at 0800 hours on Monday,  August 6 instead of the mandated two-week period.  

He said Office of the Vice President was an elevated position that should not be exposed to the public. However, the Committee would exercise circumspection when vetting the nominee.  

"We know the mood of the country, so we would certainly do what is fitting and proper," he added.   

Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader agreed that given the exigencies of the time, the country needed a Vice President urgently 'to step in the shoes of the President if duty takes him elsewhere'. 

"We want to cooperate with President Mahama to ensure he gets a Vice President to work with as soon as possible", he said, adding that Parliament would accelerate the process in order not to violate the dictates of the Constitution and the Standing Order 172 (3) which mandates the House to vet the Vice Presidential nominee in public.


 

GNA

Ghana Elections 2012 Daily News Review - 1 st August, 2012

Making news in most headlines of the newspapers today is the nomination of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana as Vice President. The Ghanaian Times has its headline captured Amissah Arthur is Vice President. So is the headline of The New Crusading Guide, Amissah Arthur gets the nod…As President Mahama 'Picks Mills, Man'.

This decision, we are told was after an intense consultations and evaluation of a number of personalities shortlisted for the post, which became vacant following the President Mahama's elevation after the sudden demise of President Mills last Tuesday. The Nomination by was in fulfillment of an urgent constitutional mandate in Article 60(6) which states as follows: The Vice President shall, Upon assuming office as president under clause (6) of this article, nominate a person to the office of the Vice-president subject to the approval by parliament.

Similarly are headlines of the Chronicle, Daily Guide, Daily Graphic and the New Statesman with their respective headlines as Amissah-Arthur is new Veep, Amissah Arthur Is Veep, Mahama selects Amissah- Arthur, Still team "B".

From the Daily Guide newspaper, during the one week celebration of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, Mahama Launches Campaign @ Funeral seizing the opportunity to market himself and his political ambition. At a well attended celebration at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra, President Mahama sought to woo the youth into voting for him in the upcoming elections since he had now become the flag bearer of the ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC).

However, in the New Statesman, some political analysis and social commentators believes, Mahama' biggest challenge is unity in NDC because there were perceived divisions in the ruling party which subsequently led to some leading members leaving the NDC to form the National Democratic Party, with Nii Armah Josiah Ayeh, former General Secretary of NDC, as its interim National Chairman.

From the same newspaper, NPP organizer: Mahama poses no threat to us, as Deputy Organizer of the New Juabeng North constituency of the New Patriotic Party, Ernest Nyarko, rejects claim from some quarters that the assumption of office by John Dramani Mahama as the President of Ghana poses a threat to the party's determination to return to the corridors of power in the December elections. According to him President Mahama carries all the "baggage" of the National Democratic Congress government under the presidency of late Prof, John Evans Atta Mills because he was an integral part of the failure administration.

Similarly from the Ghanaian Observer Our Campaign is Not Reliant on NDC Candidate-NPP says the New Patriotic party, stating emphatically that the demise of Prof. John Atta Mills will not change their campaign strategy. It was being speculated that Mills' death will bring about change in the party's strategy since most of their campaign messages were focused on the late president. Same story was also reported by the New Statesman as Mustapha: NDC's records are corruption, incompetence, joblessness.

Meanwhile in the Daily Guide newspaper, page 10, Atiwa NPP Outdoors Campaign Van. The Atiwa Constituency of the New Patriotic Party outdoored a new 12 seater Hyundai mini bus procured at the cost of 16,500 Ghana Cedis. It will be used by party executives and activists in the constituency for campaign activities in preparation for the December general elections.

From the same page, Rift In Binduri NDC, we are informed that members of the Binduri National Democratic Congress (NDC) are divided over who becomes the Chief Executive of the newly created Binduri District.

Again from the Daily Guide Political parties have been advised to Take Women Issue Serious, by training more women to take up leadership positions in order to increase their representation in governance. The parties were urged to break the culture of disparity and make participation in politics more attractive by taking stringent action against persons who go contrary to the political party code of conduct.

We conclude today's newspaper review with a peace message, Promote issue based campaign – media, politicians urged. From the story, Participants at a workshop on ways to have peaceful election have called on media organizations to spearhead thorough and investigative coverage of the 2012 elections as part of the moves to set the tone for intelligent and issue- based political discussions.

They also urged politicians, especially the Presidential and Parliamentary aspirants to be at the forefront of promoting tolerance and peace both in words and in deeds and inspire their followers to do same.

 

This daily news review is compiled by African Elections Project (AEP) Media Monitoring Centre, Accra, Ghana.

Follows us on twitter @Ghanaelections

 

 

 

 

NDC Postpones Primaries

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that its impending parliamentary primaries in the 61 constituencies have been postponed indefinitely.

A statement signed by Mr George Lawson, Deputy General Secretary in charge of Operations, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, said the postponement was to enable the Party to complete the funeral arrangements of the late President and leader of the Party, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

"NEC also directs that regional and constituency executives suspend all Party activities until further notice", the statement added.

It indicated that new dates for the primaries would be announced in due course.

 GNA