JJ Lands In Kumasi With NDP Gurus
Jerry John Rawlings
Spokesman for the former president and NDC founder, Kofi Adams confirmed this to DAILY GUIDE yesterday but fell short of saying whether Mrs. Rawlings and other persons would accompany him to the event which is expected to acclaim and endorse President John Dramani Mahama as the NDC’s flagbearer for the December 7 general elections.
The congress, which would take place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, became necessary following the demise of President Atta Mills who until his death was the presidential candidate of the party.
But DAILY GUIDE sources hinted that Mr. Rawlings, who is not just the founder of the NDC but also the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the party, would be accompanied by persons including former NDC General Secretary Dr Nii Armah Josiah Aryeh and Dr Joseph Mamboa Rockson as well as his aide, Kofi Adams.
It was not clear whether he would be accompanied by other people since an invitation purported to have been extended to Mr. Rawlings and signed by party General Secretary Johnson Asiedu-Nketia was reported to have asked the NDC founder to attend the event as an observer, with not more than 20 people.
Apart from his observer status, the NDC founder, noted for his long and boom speeches, would be allowed to speak for not more than 10 minutes.
Party General Secretary Asiedu-Nketia was reported to have served notice that since he would be the time keeper at the event, he would not allow anybody to speak beyond the allotted time.
Dr Josiah Aryeh
Ben Ephson, editor of the Daily Dispatch, had said that Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was influencing her husband not to attend the congress.
Ben Ephson, who spoke on Joy FM, claimed that he had picked up information that Mrs Rawlings, who challenged ex-president Mills for the flag-bearership of the party, did not want Mr Rawlings to attend the congress and was scheming to stop him from going to Kumasi.
But Mr. Adams, who also spoke on Joy FM last night, said, “Nobody… will attempt to put a wedge between our former President and founder, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings and her Excellency Konadu.”
This, he said, was because “they are one; they may agree and disagree on issues. That is how they have always been but they will continue to be one and we’ll move on.”
According to him, Mr. Rawlings’ decision to attend the congress was in view of the fact that he was the founder of the NDC, insisting that “the issues he’s had with the executives are still there and must be dealt with hereafter for whatever that it is to follow to follow.”
If those issues were not dealt with, Mr. Adams said, “we would find a way of moving forward”.
Kofi Adams said Mr Rawlings would as usual raise his concerns to the party leaders and hope they address them.
If they fail to address those concerns, he said, the founder would take any decision he deemed appropriate.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu