Betty Mould Iddrissu – I am a bit disappointed

Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrissu, one of the favourites tipped to be nominated for Prof. John Atta Mills' running mate says she is 'a bit disappointed' because she was not chosen.

She said she is presumably the right choice, but she respects the party's choice, saying she has confidence in the party's selection process and believes that John Mahama will do a great job for the party.

Mrs. Iddrissu was speaking from the UK on phone on Citi News Thursday afternoon, April 10, 2008.

She said as a contender, she had enjoyed absolute support from the party and from women across the country.

She said even though, she has not been chosen, she would do her best to serve the party and country.

In the run-up to the selection of a running mate for the NDC's presidential candidate, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills Mrs. Idddissu's name came up strongly as one of the contenders. And her chances were boosted when Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, wife of former president Rawlings openly supported her and suggested that she should be chosen to partner Prof. Mills.

The issues of gender consideration also to some extent brightened her chances.

As the debate raged on about her and John Mahama, the NDC appeared divided. But one school of thought argued that, what appeared to be a genuine debate over the selection of a running mate was a ploy by the NDC to make it appear as though, Prof. Mills was independent of the control of the former president and he could go against his wishes if he chose John Mahama.

This assertion, NDC apologists have ruled out, insisting there has never been any such ploy and held that Prof. Mills 'is his own man.'

Critics of the NDC presidential candidate say he is under the control and influence of the former president. And they always cite what he once said to the extent that he would consult the former president for 24 hours.

Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrissu is a lawyer and currently the Head of Legal and Constitutional Affairs of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi