23 – 12 – 2002: - Rawlings
extends reconciliation gesture to Obed
23 – 12 – 2002: - Prof.
Mills wins election
23 – 12 – 2002: - Rawlings
shed tears at NDC Congress
23 – 12 – 2002: - Botchwey
condemns politics of vindictiveness
20 – 12 – 2002: - Tomorrow
D-Day – Mills or Botchwey?
20 – 12 – 2002: - Looking
forward to NDC congress
Rawlings extends reconciliation gesture to Obed
The Former President said whatever differences existed between him and
the party chairman was over and belonged to history.
He said: "I call on the rank and file of our great party to emulate
this act, unit and extend similar reconciliatory gestures to any member who
have crossed your path either at the national, regional, constituency and ward
levels for a stronger NDC,"
Mr Rawlings who was speaking at the NDC's
Special Delegates' Congress in Accra to elect a the party's flagbearer said the
battle ahead of the NDC required total unity within party structures and among
its leaders to strengthen the structures for electoral battle to recapture
power in 2004.
At the elections, Professor John Evans Attah
Mills former Vice President and NDC's 2000
presidential candidate pulled 1,116 votes to beat Dr Kwasi
Botchwey, former Minister of Finance who had 194 votes out of a total of 1,310
valid votes cast.
Mr Rawlings also congratulated Dr Botchwey for sincerely conceding
defeat in good faith and also pledging to work with Prof Mills.
Congratulating Prof. Mills, Mr Rawlings called for hard work as the task
of recapturing power had just started, stressing, "the
great victory is only the first step, the triumphant moment would be decided in
2004."
Amidst cheering and shouting from the large audience, Mr Rawlings called
Dr Asamoah to the podium and embraced him to signify unity. Former President
Rawlings also called on members to remain focus on the principles that had guided
the party from the beginning and to avoid the temptation of expediency.
These principles according to him included commitment to the truth and
objectivity and the urge to fight for the rights of the underprivileged.
He commended the NDC Parliamentary Caucus for putting the government on
its toes and for cooperating with it when dealing with things that were for the
national good and resolutely resisting what was not in the people's interest.
GRi.../
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The election held at the Central Cafeteria of the
Prof Mills said his victory was a manifestation of the people's choice
and also a success for the party and not a personal achievement.
In a background of gospel music and a euphoric crowd of delegates, Prof
Mills said the successful election of a flag-bearer for the NDC was just the
first phase of the struggle to win back power.
He said the party needed unity, truth and dedication to increase its
strength for the general election in 2004 adding that: "Members of the NDC
have spoken. They have sent a message to the NPP that we are ready to engage in
a serious battle. Everybody must get on board. Let's forgive and forget and
build the party."
Prof Mills called on the NDC to be more committed and vibrant and he
thanked the founding fathers, the Council of Elders and his wife Naadu, for
assisting in ensuring a successful congress, stressing that the party had to
move forward as a people with a common vision.
Dr Botchwey gracefully conceded defeat and congratulated Prof Mills on
his victory and shook hands with Dr Obed Asamoah, the
Party's chairman, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, National
Executive Committee member, and Mr and Mrs Jerry
Rawlings, a former first couple.
He said his entry into the race was a good fight, which he noted had
contributed to strengthen the internal democracy of the party and assured Prof
Mills and the party that he would remain a faithful member of the NDC and would
never be the cause of any division in the party.
"I have no vengeance in my heart, let's be united and fight the
battle of our life", Dr Botchwey declared.
Dr Asamoah National Chairman of the party congratulated Prof Mills on
his victory, and said after the successful congress, the NDC would concentrate
on the rejuvenation of the party and build on what they had achieved. He
pledged his commitment to the party and said he was wiling to put himself at
the disposal of Prof Mills.
GRi.../
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Rawlings shed tears at NDC Congress
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 December 2002- Former President Jerry John
Rawlings on Saturday shed tears at the Special Delegates Congress of the
National Democratic Congress in Accra to elect its flagbearer for 2004 general
elections.
Former President Rawlings was welcomed into the packed hall of the
Central Cafeteria of to
The former President could not control his emotions and shed tears when
Dr Obed Yao Asamoah,
National Chairman of the party was delivering his speech.
Dr Asamoah was condemning some party members for what he called "a
campaign of vilification" against him as Chairman of the Party.
It was not quite clear why Former President Rawlings shed tears but he
was seen wiping tears for about ten minutes with his white handkerchief. He was
there for the whole period of voting and counting quietly and busily writing
most of the time.
Mr Rawlings did not vote but rather made a gesturing indicating that
both candidates were one. Dr Asamoah said since he sought the chairmanship of
the party, he has been subjected to vile propaganda that beats the imagination
of many, stressing, "Now that Dr Kwesi Botchwey
is seeking the flagbearer of our Party the attacks have included him and have
been intensified."
"How can we develop a fighting machine to challenge the NPP or
create the confidence in our people that we are a Party in the face of these development?" he asked
The chairman also critised some party members
for character assassination and urged the delegates to be guided by its quest
to recapture power in 2004.
He said, "The issue is not against winning an internal struggle but
about wining elections against NPP." Professor John Evans Attah Mills won the congress under the theme "Moving
Together in Unity and Vision Toward Social Democracy,"
with 1116 votes as against 194 votes by Dr Kwesi
Botchwey out of a total of 1,310 valid votes cast.
Mr Kwame Damoah-Agyeman Chief Director of
Elections, Electoral Commission who announced the results declared Prof Mills
winner amidst wild cheers, jubilation and dancing to Gospel songs.
GRi.../
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Botchwey condemns politics of vindictiveness
He said, "I carry in my hand perhaps the worst example of this
utterly shameful propaganda, sadly which comes from our own people claiming
among other things that I campaigned for the NPP during the last general
elections."
"I never imagined that any in our midst would succumb to such
shameful duplicity, but I opted for the path of restraint in the face of these
provocation for the sake of the unity and integrity of our party," Dr
Botchwey stated in a speech circulated to the media during the National
Democratic Congress Party (NDC) special delegates congress in Accra.
Dr Botchwey, however, called on party faithful, sympathisers
and well-wishers to bury the hatred and intolerance and begin to restore NDC to
its dignified, unified and popular presence.
He described the congress as the greatest day in the history of the
party, saying "for the first time in our history we are meeting to elect
the flagbearer through an open democratic process rather than by nomination and
acclamation.
Dr Botchwey who contested for the flagbearership
but lost to Professor John Evans Attah Mills former
Vice President said it was a great victory for the grassroots membership of the
party upon whose sweat, dedication and courage the NDC was built.
He said, "I salute you all, I am proud to have helped in securing
this victory, for the plain truth is that if I had not contested this race,
there would have been no election, but above all this historic congress is a
test of our credibility as a party before the people of
According to him the campaign for the contest has largely been a
rewarding experience due to the nobility of spirit and the sense of fairness
and justice of the vast numbers of party membership.
He said the 2004 elections would be difficult and tough, adding
"let us not make a mistake about it, we must go to the people of Ghana
with our greatest asset; a new vision, new direction, a revitalised
leadership that would offer workable solutions; something new in our
party."
Dr Botchwey assured the delegates and the NDC of his loyalty and
commitment to what the party stands for and its ideals in totality.
"I was there from the very beginning when our country faced its
most trying times of economic crises, when we stood in queues to buy uncooked kenkey and wash our bodies with skin-burning soap," he
said.
He pledged his total commitment to lifting what he described as dark
cloud, which has engulfed the party raising doubts about its effectiveness.
Dr. Botchwey said "we are at a cross roads and we should not be
afraid to take the strategic decisions and to chart the new path that would give
us a decisive victory in 2004."
On his relationship with Mr Rawlings, the founder of party, he said,
"I fully acknowledge and respect the role of the founder, which is
enshrined in our constitution. I know what leadership he provided in many
critical times when we needed to take some of the most difficult decisions in
our economic reform effort”.
GRi.../
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Tomorrow D-Day – Mills or Botchwey?
Accra
(Greater Accra) 20 December 2002 - As the 1,460 or so delegates converge on the
University of Ghana, Legon, central cafeteria tomorrow morning to choose
between Prof J.E. Atta Mills and Dr Kwesi Botchwey
the one to be the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate,
political observers, party functionaries and sympathisers and even the opponent
camps are anxious to know who will emerge the winner.
We
bring below the trend of preferences in some of the most critical regions which
are likely to influence the verdict. Over 90 per cent of the Western region
delegates who would be attending the congress have publicly declared their
intention to vote for Prof Atta Mills.
Some
of the constituency chairmen and delegates who spoke
to the Chronicle on condition of anonymity, said the decision to vote en bloc
for Prof Mills was taken at Bogoso on Tuesday 10
December after exhaustive debate on the issue by the delegates who were “being
pushed to the walls by their constituencies.”
The
paper also learnt from a reliable source that earlier this month, all the
delegates from the southern sector of the region which comprises Sekondi, Takoradi, Effiakuma, Kwesimintsim, Shama, Ahanta West, Evalue-Gwira, Ellembele,
Jomoro and Mpohor Wassa East constituencies met at Sekondi
and agreed to vote for Prof Atta Mills.
Some
of the delegates who insisted that their names should not be mentioned said in
separate interviews that the decision by almost all the 19 constituencies in
the region to vote for Mills was influenced by their constituents.
“So
you could see that we are only carrying the mandate which was given to us by
our constituents. We cannot go and vote for Dr Botchwey when we have not been
mandated to do so,” one of the candidates said. Some of the candidates,
however, told The Ghanaian Chronicle that though their constituents had
mandated them to vote for Mills, the situation still looks dicey for the law
professor.
According
to them, Dr Botchwey’s camp having realised the collective
decision delegates in the region had taken, have also decided to target each of
the delegates at night in their various homes. “Yes we have been asked by our
constituents to vote for Mills, but if I take money and then go and vote
against Mills how can you know since my ballot is a secret one?” one of the
constituency chairmen told the paper.
Chances
of both Mills and Botchwey winning in the Brong Ahafo region,
look 50-50. The Ghanaian Chronicle’s search in 10 out of the 18
constituencies of the region suggested a tough fight between the tow candidates
in
The
constituencies included Kintampo, Techiman
North and Techiman West, Nkoranza,
Asunafo South and North. Most of the delegates there
expressed concern over the manner in which ex-President Rawlings was
campaigning against Dr Botchwey.
At Techiman South, an executive member of the party expressed
shock over the attitude of the former president, saying, “I cannot understand the
ex-President’s behaviour, because Botchwey was his Finance Minister and he did
nothing wrong against him.”
Another
delegate who described himself as a supporter of Mills said, “the behaviour of the founder of the party will make some of
us to vote for Botchwey.”
In
a discussion with the chairman of the NDC for Techiman
South, Nashiru, he told The Chronicle at Techiman South were yet to decide
whom to vote for and their decision would taken in
At Kintampo, delegates that the paper talked to seemed to have
divided minds. Some of them preferred Dr Botchwey on grounds that he has never
lost any election. According to one of them, Botchwey would be more marketable.
At Nkoranza, a founding member of the party said, “nothing can stop me from voting for Prof Mills as calm and
confident. According to him, Rawlings is doing the right thing by campaigning
for Mills. An executive at Sunyani East said, “I can’t talk to the media now,
until in
At
Sunyani West, three delegates told the paper that Atta Mills may have the
chance but some of them will have sympathy for Botchwey, because he is an
“orphan” at the home of Rawlings.
At Asunafo South and North, some of the executives promised to
east their votes for Mills while others affirmed their support for Dr Botchwey.
A delegate said Dr Botchwey is a man of substance and ideas compared to Prof
Mills. “Mills winning the presidential candidacy would be the end of the NDC,”
he added.
At Tano North, almost all the delegates assured the ex-vice
President of their support. They were of the view that since Mills is the
choice of Rawlings, it would be easier for the party
to win in 2004 if he is allowed to lead the NDC. One of them, a former district
chief executive for Tano, Opoku
Atuahene, said both of them are good but Prof Mills
appears to be marketable, because he had led the party in the last general
elections. He said if Botchwey has the resources he should used them to rally
behind Mills to build the party.
From
Ho, reports indicate that with only a day to the congress, Dr Botchwey is ahead
in preference as flagbearer to his challenger and fellow combatant, Prof Mills.
Random sampling that was further done across the region with the support of
some of the constituency executives can predict that Dr Botchwey might win
majority of votes, 16 of the 19 constituencies.
The
three which he is not likely to win Anlo, Biakoye and Ketu South whose
members of Parliament are said to be ardent supporters of Prof Mills and wield
tremendous influence over their delegates. In a telephone conversation, the MP
for Ketu South, Hon Charles Agbenaza
failed to confirm or deny the claim.
He
was careful and laconic in his speech because according to him, if he publicly
supported any of the two candidates, it would influence the voting patterns of
his delegates and friends. The MP therefore prayed that every delegate would
vote according to his or her sense of judgement.
A
survey at the nation’s capital,
Most
of the delegates who will actually cast votes were of the view that Ms Frances Assiam, the vocal NDC Women’s Organiser, had done enough to
convince them against the “Obed machinery.”
In
a related development, Ms Frances Assiam has issued a
stern warning to the general membership of the party against any form of rowdism come Saturday. She was of the view that, the
internal “rat-race” was over and what is left is for members to show
patriotism, loyalty and love for their party and not any individual in order to
keep the party from fragmenting. – The Ghanaian Chronicle
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Looking forward to NDC congress
By
Kweku Tsen
Accra (Greater
Accra) 20 December 2002 - The vast majority of members and supporters of the largest
opposition political bloc in the country, the National Democratic Congress
(NDC), and the general public alike have, over the past year, dwelt extensively
on who becomes the flagbearer of the party as if the very survival and
development of the party hinges on that issue alone.
The writer is not per se devaluing the role of the flagbearer in the affairs of
the NDC, but situation of the party in the 200 constituencies indicate that
there are more issues that need equal attention by the leadership of the party
if it wants to wrest back political power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in
the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The leadership of the NDC acknowledges the fact that the existence of virile
structures, to a considerable extent, determines the number of people that the
party will be able to mobilise in elections, but it is sad to say that a number
of structures of the party are non-existent.
The ugly fact is that some offices of the NDC have been closed down, much to
the chagrin of the supporters who cannot fathom why those contesting the slot
and their supporters who cannot pool financial resources to rescue such
structures which are in distress.
The writer can state, as an example that the office of the Agona West
Constituency branch of the NDC has been closed down due to the inability of the
party to settle its indebtedness to the landlord of the building.
This ugly
development, which speaks badly of a party that has managed the country for
several years, has, in no small measure, demobilised activists whose stipends
have been in arrears for several months.
The question is, is the NDC really serious about recapturing political power
when, with about-one-and-a-half years to undertake active politicking, offices
which serve as points of contact for secretariat staff and the rank and file
members remain closed? Somebody in the leadership must swiftly respond to the
query.
One area that needs to be tackled immediately on the party’s front is the
disunity on the cadre front of the party which, at the moment, is at the point
of dismemberment.
The fact remains that the NDC trained a large number of cadres on whose thin
shoulders the party developed but its is ironical that since the defeat of the
party at the last polls, nothing has been done by way of identifying and
re-grouping all of them, since the front broke up into two main blocs, the
Comrade Sam Garba and Comrade Nii
Adjei Boye Sekan blocs.
It was also the expectation of some leading cadres in the party that the Chief
Cadre in the NDC, former President Jerry Rawlings, will take concrete and far
reaching steps to unite the front of cadres, especially those who, as a result
of frustration, left to form the National Reform Party (NRP).
The abysmal performance of the Reform Party at the 2000 elections has dawned on
its national executive that the party cannot go it alone and win elections in
the near and foreseeable future in the country.
This development provides an opportunity for the leadership of the NDC to reach
out to their own in the Reform Party to iron out their differences and come
together to contest the elections, since a divided house cannot stand and
achieve anything meaningful in life.
The nagging question of lack of funds is gradually crippling the activities of
a party which just recently relinquished political power to the NPP and this is
mind-boggling. The writer does not sincerely believe that the NDC is broke. It
is his conviction that the big-wigs in the party are withholding their purses
and that they intend to support their favourite who emerges as the flagbearer
of the party for the next polls with such funds.
The well-being of a party depends on money and organisation; these factors are
dialectically linked, to the extent that an attempt to concentrate on one of
them will be to the detriment of the party. The broad masses of supporters are
at a big loss, considering the fact that leading functionaries have been
stating every now and then that the NDC is in dire financial straits.
The NDC has not organised any workshop, since the last elections, to educate
activists, majority of whom are ignorant about its positions on crucial issues
of national concern. The Council of Elders of the party must also continue to
heal the pockets of mistrust and antagonism in the party to ensure that it
gives the ruling NPP a stiff challenge in the next polls.
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