NDC Describes National Delegates Congress In Kumasi As Successful

The NDC has described its congress in Kumasi on Thursday as the most successful and peaceful in Ghana. Deputy General Secretary of the NDC in Charge of Operations, George Lawson, told Radio Ghana that the presence of its founder and former President, Jerry John Rawlings, has sent shivers down the spine of opponents, as the NDC is now seen as a formidable and united party. On the absence of the NDP at the congress, Mr Lawson said all parties were invited. The NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, also says the presence of the founder, former President Rawlings has proved skeptics wrong that the party is divided. He said the coming of the founder to the congress has added a new impetus. Meanwhile, the PNC has congratulated President John Mahama on his overwhelming endorsement as the Presidential Candidate of the NDC. Its General Secretary, Bernard Mornah, says the congress was successful, adding that the crowd was intimidating. He, however, insists the PNC is poised for victory in December. A Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr Michael Kpessah Whyte says the 99.5% endorsement of President Mahama by NDC delegates shows his popularity. He however cautions the President not to be complacent. Speaking to Radio Ghana's correspondent, Dr Kpessah Whyte describes the success of the congress as a feather in the cup of Ghana's democracy. Dr Kpessah also added that the party needs to do more work to achieve total unity within its rank and file. President John Dramani Mahama was overwhelmingly elected the flagbearer of the NDC for the December general elections at the party�s special delegate�s congress in Kumasi. He polled 2,767 votes, representing 99.5% out of 2,792 total votes cast. 11 votes were rejected while 14 voted no. The voting was supervised by a Deputy Chairman of the EC Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka who declared the result.