JJ POSTPONES NDP LAUNCH -New Party’s Outdooring now Slated for Ashaiman

The much talked-about and long-awaited inauguration of a new political party, the National Democratic Party (NDP) by the nation's most stubborn political love birds; former president Jerry Rawlings and wife Nana Konadu, scheduled for the 4th of June this year at Aflao has finally been postponed and shifted to Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region at a date yet to be fixed, The Al-Hajj can confirm on authority.

Political analysts and media have over the last few weeks reported that former President Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu together with remnants of their FONKAR loyalists and political hangers-on across the country will be launching a new political party, the National Democratic Party (NDP).

The couple, the reports suggests, will be announcing their official break-away from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a party they founded; on the 4th of June this year at Aflao in the Volta region, to coincide with the 33rd anniversary celebration of the June 4 uprising that heralded the couple to unexpected political stardom.

However, latest information reaching our news desk indicates that the next Monday's rally at Aflao, ostensibly to mark the 33rd anniversary celebration of the June 4th uprising but initially billed for the launch of the new Party, NDP, has now been converted into a low key durbar instead.

At the time of going to press, no reason/s has been assigned for the sudden change of arrangement, but what this paper can report is that, a formal launching of the National Democratic Party (NDP) is expected to now take place at Ashaiman, in the Greater Accra region at a date yet to be agreed upon.

The Al-Hajj has gathered that the postponement and change of venue by the Rawlingses is not unconnected with the disdain and anger amongst the people of the Volta region towards their 'son's deviant' behavior.

The former first lady and president of the 31st December Women's Movement, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is expected to be named Presidential Candidate of the NDP and would be partnered by former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin Alamisi Amidu.

The new party, our information revealed would be chaired by a former leading member of the NDC who is also a former NDC parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region and a known Rawlings loyalist, Dr. Kwasi Ofei-Agyemang who has openly confirmed that the new party will be formed based on the principles of probity, accountability and social justice.

Mr. Kofi Adam, the suspended deputy General Secretary of the NDC who also doubles as spokesperson of the Rawlingses is set to become the substantive NDP General Secretary whiles Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed, a former spokesman to Spio Garbra picks up the position of National Organizer.

Heralding the formation of this new party, the former NDC vice chairperson, Nana Konadu early this month instructed her lawyers to write to the NDC executives claiming ownership of the party's logo.

According to her lawyers, the NDC logo is the intellectual property of their client because she created it, adding that, the right steps will be taken to ensure that the logo is not misused by individuals or group of persons.

Again, Konadu is reported to be contemplating a legal suit challenging the very legitimacy of the name, NDC following the party's formal merger with the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).

According to the report, Nana Konadu in consultation with her lawyers is exploring the possibility of going to court, using surrogate to compel the NDC to drop its name as required by the Political Parties Law, Act 2000 (574) after the merger with the DFP.