<<Print>>

President John Dramani Mahama has given his strongest preference for one of the aspiring regional chairmen of the Ashanti Branch of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). The tacit endorsement by the President was given credence when he insisted that T.K. Braimah sat on the dais during the recently celebrated Eid at the Kumasi Central Mosque whilst the current regional executives including Chiarman Obimpeh sat amongst the ordinary people. The whole drama unfolded as early as 8am last Monday morning as scores of Muslims trooped to the Central Mosque to catch a glimpse of the President who had travelled from Accra to join them celebrate the Eid which climaxes every Ramadan season of fasting. And taking their campaign to the grounds of the Central Mosque, T.K. Braimah�s supporters mobilized their members to give the President a rousing welcome and to tacitly seek for the endorsement of their candidate who seems to enjoy massive support in the Ashanti Region. As if by design, the Friends of T.K. Braimah were the ones who gave the President the loudest cheer when he took the microphone to address the auspicious occasion. No wonder the President noticed them when he was leaving the Central Mosque grounds and beckoned them to come close to his car as he lowered the window mirror to take about 15 posters of Mr Thomas Kwabena Braimah. The obviously elated supporters shouted JM! JM!! JM!!! in appreciation of the President�s gesture with some literally removing their shirts on the ground for him to pass over them. What brought out the loudest cheer was when the President after taking the posters into his car, raised his thumb up on the poster as he took off. This sent the tons of supporters into frenzy as some who were carrying drums at their back drummed so heavily, with others also dancing the warlike dance in appreciation to the President for endorsing their preferred candidate. Surprising though, the Regional Minister earlier last week, issued a caveat which literally barred government officials in the region from showing their preference for any of the contesting aspirants. He is even alleged to have castigated on Mike Amedior for using the names of Kofi Portuphy and Joseph Yamin as persons strongly behind his campaign. GO will next week furnish readers with more information on the upcoming regional, constituency and branch elections of the ruling NDC as it promises to be a fiercely contested event.