<<Print>>

A crunch National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) would be held in Accra within to discuss what a senior party source called �serious issues arising out of the recently held Sunyani Congress of the party.� The July 8 to 10, 2011 Congress re-elected second-term-seeking President John Evans Atta Mills as flagbearer for the 2012 general elections. President Mills will attend today�s meeting and is expected to douse growing speculations that he intends to resign from office on health grounds and hand over the office of President to his deputy, John Mahama. Set to take place at the Local Government Institute in Madina, today�s crunch meeting is expected to see the President announce an intention to retain John Dramani Mahama as running mate for next year�s polls. Our source said the meeting is crucial to afford the President an opportunity �to deflate increasing speculations that his health is deteriorating and that he may not be able to seek re-election next year.� According to one source, the letter inviting party chiefs to the meeting did not have any specific agenda, but indications are that the meeting will also discuss proposals on when the party should hold primaries around the country to elect Parliamentary Candidates to contest next year�s general elections. Our source also said it is possible party chiefs will also discuss how to �tame the raging popular outrage and dissent within the ranks of the NDC in the Volta Region.� Defeated former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings will not be at the meeting, having resigned her position as National Vice Chairperson ahead of the Sunyani Congress. Her husband, Jerry John Rawlings is in Ghana but it is unclear if he will attend the meeting.