Rawlings never endorsed Mahama – FONKAR

John Jerry Rawlings

A leading member of Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR), a splinter group of the ruling NDC has denied media reports that the party founder, Jerry Rawlings endorsed the candidature of John Dramani Mahama for the upcoming elections.

The founder of the NDC, addressing Volta Regional House of Chiefs in Ho, Wednesday stated that the sudden demise of President Mills has brought some goodwill to the NDC thereby giving President Mahama a chance of winning the December 7 polls.

Mr. Rawlings' comments, according to FONKAR's Ernest Owusu-Bempah, do not amount to the founder, a known harsh critic of the NDC, endorsing the candidature of President John Dramani Mahama.

Fonkar's Operation Director told Myjoyonline.com that Mr. Rawlings' remarks have been taken out of context. According to him, Rawlings' stance on the party has not changed as the party has not yet returned to the proverbial principles of probity, transparency and accountability.

Mr. Bempah further added that Mr. Rawlings' posture at the recent NDC special delegates congress in Kumasi is no different from what he portrayed Wednesday when he met the chiefs. According to him, John Mahama has not lowered Rawlings' proverbial “babies with sharp teeth” hence Mr. Rawlings could not have endorsed the NDC flag bearer.

The spokesperson for the Rawlings', Kofi Adams however conceded that President Mahama has indeed brought a new lease of life into the ruling party but however stated that Mr. Rawlings is yet to decide whether to join the NDC campaign trail.

According to Mr Adams in an interview with Joy FM, it is only the campaign team of John Mahama that can persuade the NDC founder to join the campaign trail.

The Rawlingses have also strongly been linked to the newly certified National Democratic Party which is yet to elect its flag bearer. Mrs Rawlings according to reports is a leading contender for the NDP flag bearer spot.