Mills To Win By Acclamation

President Evans Atta Mills

Paapa Bissiw, a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), who is also the spokesperson of the Youth Forum, an interest group of the party, has stated that the next flagbearer of the NDC will be chosen by popular acclamation.

He made the call during the official launch of 'March for peace, unity and cohesion in NDC' by a group called 'Add My Vote Campaign Volunteers and its Partners' at a press conference in Accra on June 7, 2011.

He noted that the forthcoming national congress will determine whether or not the party will retain power, adding that members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should not think they can capitalize on the recent 'FONKAR GAME' brouhaha to win the 2012 general elections.

He said 'there is going to be an official popular acclamation and not by voting, there will not be any voting in Sunyani, the NDC flagbearer will be chosen on the basis of popular acclamation, take it from me.

'Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah's withdrawal from the presidential race last week is a clear indication that the congress will not be as brutal as perceived by some Ghanaians, let's wait and see what happens at congress grounds, he added.

He disclosed these in reaction to a question posed by a reporter of an Accra-based newspaper, the Insight who wanted to know what the group 'Add My Vote Campaign Volunteers-NDC' considers as the real solution to the July 8 Congress.

The founder and president for the group, Nana Kofi Nti Ofinam, in a speech, said the peace and unity in the NDC party are paramount to the group, hence the motto 'united we stand, divided we fall.'

He observed that the recent happenings in the party were alarming, noting, 'Ghanaians voted the NDC into power for a purpose, they voted for an agenda they believe we can accomplish to make Ghana a better place for us all and this must remain our focus.'

He noted that 'after wrestling political power from the NPP by putting forward a united front at a time it is possible to pull together as a party and achieved our goals.

'We believe a significant portion of Ghanaians, particularly the floating voters, who voted for the party in 2008 don't feel comfortable about the cracks in our dear party. The million dollar question however is if the CPP equals Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the NPP equals Danquah-Busia, then NDC equals what?'

He also affirmed that the only way forward is to focus on how the party could present a united front for the 2012 general elections.

'We however wish to call on the Council of Elders of the party, the Functional Executive Committee and the presidential aspirants within the party to as a matter of urgency call their supporters and admirers to order as far as the declaration of intention and the campaign of the presidential candidates is concerned and exhibit a high level of respect for the structures and constitution of the party, demonstrate clearly that unity is inherent in the composition of the NDC and not allow the issue of factions and camps to tear apart the party.

'We are calling on Prof. Mills, the 'Asomdweehene' to use his office as the leader of the party to foster peace, unity and cohesion in the NDC and also ensure that his appointees observe and abide by the principles, values and philosophy of the party. They must bear in mind that their appointment came into being as a result of their membership of the party,' he lamented.

'Fellow 'Aktamansonians' this is exactly what 'Add My Vote Campaign Volunteers and its partners' is committed to. We are therefore making a passionate appeal to all true and loyal NDC members to oppose those who are sowing seeds of confusion between the founder and the president.'

By Dominic Kojo Blay