Former President Jerry John Rawlings has called for a major overhaul of the leadership of the party he founded, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
President Rawlings, who signed the first manifesto of the NDC with his blood, believes the current leadership, led by Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei and General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah aka General Mosquito needs to purge itself of dead wood to stand any chance of victory in the 2016 elections.
The NDC founder made the call in an exclusive interview on Adom FMon Thursday November 13, 2014.
Speaking about the ongoing internal campaigning and elections of the NDC, President Rawlings said the NDC could regain the moral high ground only if it kicked out some leaders who had forgotten what has made the NDC a great party.
In a back handed swipe at current chairman Kwabena Adjei, President Rawlings declared the national chairmanship race to be between Kofi Portuphy, current boss of NADMO, and Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, a former Regional Secretary (now known as Minister), leaving out Dr Adjei, who is seeking re-election.
President Rawlings refused to comment on the chances of General Secretary Asiedu Nketiah, saying �that man opens his mouth and pours acid on anyone he is against. Maybe that�s why some people think NDC needs him.�
There has been some bad blood between the two men in recent times.
Incumbent National Organiser Yaw Boateng Gyan fared no better. Mr Gyan�s main challenger, Kofi Adams, received a ringing endorsement from Mr Rawlings for his �integrity.�
Commenting on the Greater Accra regional elections, President Rawlinsg all but endorsed the candidature of aspirant Stephen Akwettey, saying he had heard some good things about him, especially his integrity.
In contrast, the NDC founder had a dim view of the incumbent, Joseph Kobina Ade Coker, questioning his integrity and describing him as someone who was �finished a long time ago.�
He called for an expansion of the NDC�s delegate list, insisting that the current pool of could lend itself to bribery by aspirants with deep pockets.
The NPP decision to expand its electoral college, �championed by Nana Akufo-Addo�, had taken internal NPP elections �beyond bribes, the corrupting influence of money�
�I wish we had done same in NDC along time ago�, he mused.
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