JJ: NDC MPS WILL LOSE … December parliamentary elections
From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi
The founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Jerry John Rawlings, has predicted a massive loss for some of the contesting NDC members of parliament (MPs), because wrong people were elected during the party primaries.
According to the ex-President, the ruling party did not elect parliamentary candidates based on merit, but rather some of them paid their way through to ensure their victories, resulting in the defeat of true, competent and legitimate candidates.
Reiterating his earlier pledge not join the party’s campaign ahead of the December 7 polls, the former president disclosed that Ghanaians would witness the re-emergence of the true NDC through a massive revolution, which, he said, would occur after the polls.
The NDC founder, who was speaking at the national delegates’ congress of the newly formed National Democratic Party (NDP), held in Kumasi over the weekend, also fired salvos at the leadership of his own party, asking why they were afraid to go into opposition, if they had nothing to hide.
In yet another frank and open statement that seems to cast doubts over the electoral chances of the NDC, the ex-President said he did not understand why the ruling NDC was fighting desperately to be in power, if they had not done anything wrong.
An emotionally charged Rawlings asked: “Why are they fighting tooth and nail to stay in power? Why are they trying desperately to win this election? Why are they afraid to go into opposition?”
According to him, the current crop of leadership of the NDC was embroiled in serious corruption and loss of integrity, so much that they were afraid of what would happen to them should they lose power.
He observed that in all parts of the world where democracy is practised, governments do not fear to leave office during elections, adding that in the case of the NDC, they were filled with trepidation, because of what they had done.
“A government worth its salt, and believes that it has indeed, fulfilled the mandate of the people, should not be afraid to go into opposition,” he emphasised.
Using himself as an example, the ex-president noted that he was currently enjoying peace and freedom because his leadership was free from corruption, injustices and abuse of office, stressing that he wondered why this current NDC cannot do same.
Mr. Rawlings reiterated his consistent criticisms of the ruling party, chiding it of losing moral high grounds, probity and accountability.
He said the massive corruption and loss of integrity under the current administration was unimaginable, stressing that corruption had become endemic under this current administration.
The ex-president further chastised the party leadership for influencing elections with money, citing the party’s congress held at Sunyani, which, he alleged, the late President Mills won because of monetary influence.
He indicated, however, that the party would not be in any position to influence the upcoming general elections, since they could not buy the conscience of the Ghanaian electorate.
Emergence of the NDP
The former President explained that if the current crop of leadership had maintained the probity, accountability and social justice which the NDC espoused and existed to achieve, they would not have been any need for the formation of the new party.
Paying glowing tributes to his wife and former First Lady, Mr. Rawlings said it was never the wish of Nana Konadu to become president of this country, adding, “You all know how this little woman fought through thick and thin to ensure the freedom and emancipation of Ghanaian women; how she struggled to bring the NDC on its feet.”
He indicated that he believed in the integrity of his wife and that of the NDP, stressing that he hoped they would be able to restore, back to this country, the social justice and freedom needed for development.
He said the former First Lady, through her brainchild – the 31st December Women’s Movement – thronged every nook and cranny of this country to gather women and empowered them,
“All these times that she was doing this, she never dreamt of being a president, but looking at current circumstances, and the fact that the NDC has failed to uphold the tenets and the very basis upon which it was established, I think it is a right decision.
NDC fails to celebrate 20th Anniversary
The former president further wondered why the ruling party could not celebrate its 20 years of existence as a political party in grand style.
He said, as a party in power, it was highly expected that an occasion like the celebration of two decades would be organised in such a way that each and every member of the party would share in the joy and take pride in it.
“But, what did we see,” the former President queried, “it was just some small number of people who gathered somewhere and pretended to be celebrating.”
He said though the emergence of President John Mahama had brought a glimmer of hope to the party, he did not believe it would be enough to salvage the NDC.
Former President Rawlings, however, pointed out that the NDC would soon witness a proper revolution, stressing that the old umbrella symbol would be rejuvenated.
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