Rawlings has to shut up - Minister

Sunyani, December 16, 2004, Chronicle -- The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Kwadwo Adjei Darko in an interview with The Chronicle said that Flt. LT Rawlings, the ex-President with NDC in four more years in opposition, would not have the courage to withstand the storm from Ghanaians and this would curtail his repulsive utterances and attitude towards certain people in the country.

Mr. Darko, who had just retained his Sunyani West seat, also indicated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would further be fragmented and this would cause the party's chances of winning power in Ghana forever and ever.

The minister noted that the Rawlings factor is gradually fading out and this, according to him, would give the members in NDC a true democracy within themselves to taste.

He said, “For Rawlings to be in opposition for four years, I believe he wouldn't have the valor to endure the political atmosphere and this would make him to advise himself.”

As to whether the New Patriotic Party would also face similar situation of disintegration, as they would be looking for a new Presidential Candidate for 2008 elections or would be unified force,. Mr. Darko noted that for them in the UP tradition, they are smart in resolving their own issues. He cited instances where the NPP was able to address their own problems after wrangling and power struggling, as 1992, 1996 and of cause in 2000 where some of the core members of the party struggled for the Presidential candidacy, but as soon they elected Prof Adu Boahen and President Kufuor in 1992, 1996 and 2000 respectively, everything was resolved amicably.

He said “following this trend of events in our party, NPP is a solid party as compare to the NDC where one man wants to dictate to the majority of the party members.

The Sunyani West MP noted that taken a clue from some members of the party who broke away to contest as Independent candidates after losing primaries, had failed miserably in the December polls.

Mr. Darko said, “This would tell you that supporters of the NPP do not follow personalities, but rather the party of NPP”, he said.

Whether the NDC performance in this year's election was a good show or bad, the minister said he would not say NDC has done better, because they suppose to do better than this, because having been in power for almost two decades and were having all structures, such as cadres, 31st December Movement, Veranda Boys and Girls, and also put its men and women at some strategic positions in government and some NGOs, the party should have did something better than what they have chalked in the elections.

Comparing their performance to their opponent (NDC), Mr. Darko said, “It was a great achievement for NPP for winning in round one in a clean and fair election, considering the state in which NDC left the country in 2000.

According him, this shows that NPP's management of the economy in its four years was a superb one.

Why he retains his seat with a wider margin of votes, the MP said, “This was because of developmental projects and the development of human resource structures in his constituency and nothing else.

According to the MP, the people had realized that they have a better government and MP who could redeem them from their economic doldrums, hence his victory above others.

Another factor attributed to his victory, according Mr. Darko was regular communication and personal interactions with his constituents.

In a related development, the MP elect for the Nkoranza North Constituency, Nana Eric Amoateng observed that the creation of a new constituency for the people of Nkoranza North had pleased the people and they have to reciprocate the NPP government by voting whelming for the party.

According to Nana in an interview with The Chronicle, his election as an MP fro the area would increase a lot of developments, because when he was not an MP he had been doing a lot in terms of development to the people.

He said outside parliament he had purchased farm inputs like tilling machines, tractors and other farm inputs to boost farming activities in the constituency.

Nana Amoateng disclosed that his ambition for the constituency was to ensure creation of another district for the Nkoranza north to ensure more development. Education, improvement of farming and health would be his target.

Before, entering into politics, Nana Amoateng was the Chief of Amoma in the Kintampo districts, but had to abdicate his stool to enter into politics.