Former President Jerry John Rawlings has described the newly elected leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a combination of “the good, the bad and the ugly.”
In an exclusive interview with Jonathan Donkor of the Ghanaian Times newspaper, Mr Rawlings declined to put the individuals into the aforementioned categories except to say the combination was not uncommon.
He was a “little disturbed” about the absence of an indigene of the Volta Region amongst the new frontline leaders, although the region was deemed the ‘world bank’ of the party.
The founder of the NDC was sharing his impression of the party’s just ended National Delegates’ Congress during which, after a marathon election, a new crop of leaders were chosen.
A former vice chairperson of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo grabbed the chairmanship after a keen contest with four other stalwarts of the party.
The incumbent general secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, popularly called “General Mosquito”, defeated his deputy, Koku Anyidoho to retain the position he had held for a decade.
The entire congress, the former President said was “not too bad, not too good”, as a result of which the calibre of leaders were elected by the about 9,000 delegates.
He expressed his disapproval of what he described as the use of money to “corrupt the sanctity of the right of choice” at the various elections in the party adding that; “the misuse of money has undermined the force of our conviction.”
The practice, he said had been going on since the late former President John Evans Atta Mills’ leadership and had worsened today.
“The use of money to corrupt the sanctity of the right of choice is one of the worst mistakes we could have ever made,” he pointed out.
Former President Rawlings took the opportunity to clarify his unexpectedly short “one sentence message” delivered at the congress.
At the Congress, he said “I can imagine we would wish to bring back the spirit of the old days. But that can only happen if we cultivate the habit of listening to ourselves.”
While some people understood him as asking the party’s rank and file to listen to each other’s counsel, others thought he meant they should listen to their inner voice or conscience.
The latter, according to the former President, was the message he desired to send across but coded it to put the burden of “free-will” on the audience.
“They were expecting me to blast them instead I put the burden of free will on them and their conscience.
“We are not listening to our inner voice, our conscience - that godly voice in our nature. If we were, we would not be making the terrible mistakes we have been making,” he clarified.
To change the status quo, former President Rawlings said it was time for like-minded Ghanaians of serious integrity, devoid of their political colour and team up to form a “very dynamic movement.”
The movement, he said was to be a “Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to propel the values of probity, accountability, social justice,” stressing that it was not to be misunderstood to be a political party.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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We do not need front line positions in the NDC.... what the region need is development. Rawlings must shuttttt uppppp. What did he do for the region in his 19 years as president? Nothing. Get lost... you do not love the region.
The Voltarias were once NPP so they should come home and leave NDC alone. Dr Obed Asamoah and Dr Agama were all UP people. It was Rawlings who took them away.
So how can i be encourage as a voltarian that the region will be developed under them whiles could not elect a single person at the frontline of their party.
papa j founder d party but john ford mahama owns it now. he decides what happens in the party now. and his agenda is to end that volta tag on the ndc. so far so good for him.
@Phillips I agree with you 100%. Perfect analysis
But you Rawlings kruaa are you not from Volta Region? Are you not the founder of the party? so why are you saying this tribal non. Sense. The best people were elected to lead the party. This tribal Kwasisem must stop. We’re all from Ghana. The best people should be allowed to lead the party
I believe a voltarian could have been elected on the frontline leadership. The quality of those who stop was not the best. If alex sebegfia or Sylvester mensah had stood against asiedu nkestia, things could have been different. Dan agbodakpi quiet old for the position now, someone like prosper bani could have beaten ofosu ampofo. The best voltarians did not stand. Can one say ndc should have elected anita de souso as national organizer simply because she came fro volta region? No. She was not fit for that position. Afriyie ankrah or fiifi kwetey would have beaten akamba hands down. I strongly believe it was not the fault of the delegates, it was simply a matter of the quality of those who stood for the various positions. Better candidates next time.
I agree 100% with you. If he had been wise enough to give a thought provoking speech admonishing the delegates to consider regional balance, probably things would have been better for him. He only went there to confuse the delegates.
Is this not the same man who advised the delegate to listen to themselves? So you asked the delegates to listen to themselves and they did so by making sure no voltarian is in the frontline executive of the ndc, why then do you same person come back and say it worrying that they didn't elect any voltarian in the frontline executive group. Sometimes, he makes some of us think there is some wire break up there. Say one thing and do the other. What person are you. "YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO YOURSELVES" JJ RAWLINGS!
The NDC world bank will soon become a rural bank...... why are you guys always playing the tribal politics? You must elect the best to run your party.