JJ Missing At NDC Rally

The much-touted National Democratic Congress (NDC) rally came off last Saturday at Mantse Agbona, Jamestown, Accra; but with former President Jerry John Rawlings and his spouse Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings carrying out their threat not to be part of the party's campaign.

The former First Couple was visibly absent, against suggestions by Ade Coker, the Greater Accra NDC chairman who indicated he was going to perform a miracle by making Mr Rawlings 'appear' at the rally.

The absence of the former First Couple dealt the event a terrible blow, with some of those who graced the occasion expressing disappointment in the party leadership's inability to mend the broken fences in the political grouping.

Almost all those who turned up for the event were curious about whether the Rawlingses would have a last minute change of mind and show up for the party's first rally in this election year.

Although former President Rawlings warned the NDC leadership not to use his name to attract people to the rally, the earlier announcements encouraged many to come.

According to the attendees, the party needed Mr. Rawlings's support in order to retain power.

'It will be very difficult for us to win this year's election if Mr. Rawlings refused to campaign for the party this time around,' a depressed party supporter said.

Speaking at the rally, President Atta Mills said Ghanaians must wait for another four years for their lives to be transformed, when they renew his mandate come December 7.

He said he used the first term of his government to get rid of hurdles to pave way for a better Ghana in the years ahead.

There were so many things he could point as achievements of his first term as president, he said, stressing, 'Those who have nothing to show will only resort to insults and lies'.

Action, President Mills said, spoke louder than words; therefore his works would speak for him on Election Day.

He urged his party supporters and officials not to engage in the politics of insults that had characterized the campaign season, pointing out that the 'unprecedented achievement' of his government in four years was there for Ghanaians to see.

President Mills said, 'Let us not waste time on insults and lies. If Ghana is being praised, it is not for nothing. Let us give praise where it is due. If this is supposed to be a party in disarray then I can't imagine a party held together'.

This, apparently, was to assure supporters and others outside that the NDC was as solid as ever with nothing amiss, despite the obvious deep cracks in the party.

'Let us be positive and not listen to the cries of those who are disappointed because they will remain disappointed,' President Mill added and encouraged all NDC fans to register when the biometric registration exercise begins on March 24.

The National Chairman of NDC, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, appealed to members of the party who felt aggrieved to put an end to their demonstrations and threats, since such actions were not in the best interest of the party.

He told the party supporters that 'every group or every organization cannot avoid factions or difference of interests', adding that 'a group without conflicts is dead or is about to die'.

Dr. Adjei urged the party to unite ahead of the December polls in order to not just beat the opposition New Patriotic Party but to 'beat the NPP thoroughly and hands down'.

He admonished party members to desist from issuing threats of voting 'skirt and blouse' in the December polls. That, he said, would not help the party win with massive votes as they wanted.

The General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said he was surprised to hear that the NPP was complaining about the Special Forces formed by the government.

'Why should the NPP make a lot of noise about the Special Forces if they have no evil intention to cause chaos in the forthcoming elections?' he questioned.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia said, 'The NPP said all die be die, so why are they now running away and complaining about the Special Forces?'

He said the constitution mandated the government to buy fire arms for the military to protect the country, so they had done nothing wrong by forming the Special Forces and equipping them.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the arms that were displayed by the Special Forces during the Independence Day march were just a tip of the iceberg.

He said the Special Forces would deal with persons conniving with foreigners to cause mayhem as the country approached elections.

The Regional Chairman, Kobena Ade Coker, urged all NDC faithful, party members and sympathizers to sound the achievements of the Mills Administration to win more voters to the side of the NDC.

He said in nearby Dansoman, there had been significant improvement in road infrastructure, including the construction of a dual carriage way, making movement easier.

Other party bigwigs who addressed the crowd were National Organizer Yaw Boateng Gyan, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Fiifi Kwetey, Minister of Environment and Science Sherry Ayitey, and a Vice Chairperson of the party, Alhaji Huudu Yahya.

The platform was used to introduce all the parliamentary candidates of the Greater Accra Region to the supporters.

The curtain was drawn over the rally soon after the President ended his five-minute speech at about 5.15pm as people started heading for home.

It would be recalled that the Greater Accra regional NDC propaganda secretary, Nii Duodu Doodo, said before the rally that the regional executives had extended invitation to all who mattered in the party including former President Rawlings and his wife.

Immediately after he made that pronouncement, the office of the former President released a statement of disclaimer, saying no invitation had been extended to Mr. Rawlings by the party executive.

'This office wishes to inform the general public that it has received no invitation on behalf of President Rawlings,' the statement read.

By Cephas Larbi