Politics of Thursday, 18 October 2012

Source: Al-Hajj

Dr. Ofei Agyeman Endorses Mahama

After Kofi Adams, Dr. Mamboah, Saint Osei & Alh. Nasiru…

The soaring attractiveness of the 2012 flagbearer of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and sitting president, John Dramani Mahama continues to grow in leaps and bounds.

The latest grab of the president is no other than the celebrated naturopathic and a founding member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Kwasi Ofei-Agyeman.

Until two weeks ago, Dr. Kwasi Ofei-Agyeman was a leading member of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings’ National Democratic Party.

He announced his resignation from the NDP with less than a week to the party’s national delegate’s congress held in Kumasi last Saturday, and recommended the opposition New Patriotic Party presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo as the fit candidate for the December 2012 elections.

However, with less than seven weeks into the crucial December polls Dr. Ofei-Agyeman, who had contested and lost the Ayawaso Central constituency seat on the ticket of the NDC during the 2008 parliamentary elections, is all set to announce his endorsement of the NDC candidate at a yet-to-be organized press briefing any time soon.

Dr. Ofei-Agyeman’s latest action comes in the heels of similar stamp of approval of President John Mahama by loyalists of former first lady and presidential candidate of the newly formed National Democratic Party, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. A day before the NDP congress in Kumasi last Saturday, Dr. Manboa-Rockson, the Interim Secretary-General of the party announced his resignation and endorsed President John Mahama, saying he has brought great improvement and unity in the party after the demise of late President Mills.

“Things have started improving; discipline in the party has increased; people have stopped insulting the former president,” he observed He stated that former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings had kicked against moves by the NDC to bring on board the disenchanted, insisting she would go for the flag-bearership of the NDP alone.

Just after her acclamation as flag bearer of the NDP in Kumasi, Nana Konadu’s spokesperson, Mr. Kofi Adams, revealed he will not vote for her in the upcoming December polls.

Mr. Adams told Citi Breakfast Show on Monday that he was committed to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and will thus vote for President John Mahama.

Later in the afternoon of the same day, two of Nana Konadu’s other loyalists, Mr. Saint Osei, who works in the office of Konadu’s hubby and former president, Jerry John Rawlings and Alhaji Nasiru, her campaign coordinator dealt her a severe blow, when they announced their endorsement of John Mahama for the December elections.

Dr. Ofei Agyeman who had earlier cited certain shortcomings in both the NDC and the NDP, in a brief chat told this paper that it is better to remain in his mother party, the NDC, especially with John Mahama at the helm, to work and correct them.

…And More Celebrities Too Randy, KSM and Ogbame ..Are the latest

More and more Ghanaian Celebrities on their own desire continue to demonstrate their love and support for the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Mahama in the upcoming December polls. Information available to The Al-Hajj indicates that over 50 of such celebrities are expected to endorse John Dramani Mahama’s candidature by the close of next month.

Leading the pack according to our sources, are the celebrated broadcaster and former spokesperson of the Ghana Football Authority, Mr. Randy Abbey, Ghana’s famous Satirist, Mr. Kweku Sintim-Misa, popularly called KSM and renowned journalist and Managing Editor of the Gye Nyame Concord, Alfred Ogbamey.

A source said though the three persons mentioned are known acquaintances of President John Mahama, they are nevertheless very much impressed with his handling of the affairs of the nation so far and are therefore unable to resist the temptation of publicly endorsing him.

The three, according to another source, are expected within the next few days to announce their backing for President John Mahama.

By press time Wednesday, The Al-Hajj was unable confirm from the trio as all attempts to speak to them proved futile.

A recent research done by GhanaSuperStars.Com amongst celebrities reveal John Dramani Mahama has won the hearts of many of the celebrities.

According to GhanaSuperStars.Com the methodology of their research which was based on phone calls and secretly having a one-on-one chat surveyed among over 30 Ghanaian superstars from various entertainment cycles, saw most of them opting for John Ahobrasihene Dramani Mahama.

The list of the celebs surveyed, according to the agency, span from movie, music, comedy, fashion, modeling, football stars, media and entertainment critics.

A badge of celebrities in the media have already voiced out support for President John Mahama among them include; Gilbert Aggrey, popularly known as Abeiku Santana, host of Okay FM’s late afternoon drive time show, Seasoned journalist and the Editor of the Punch Newspaper, Mr. Ebenezer Ato Sam also known as Baby Ansaba and Celebrated Sports broadcaster, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.

NPP SPONSORS KONADU -Buys Her Secretary a Car

Intelligence information available to The Al-Hajj reveals the high involvement of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the flotation and operations of the National Democratic Party.

Contrary to former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings’ denials The Al-Hajj can today confirm that the NPP is in actual fact sponsoring her and the new party, NDP.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) from which the NDP was formed has consistently accused the NPP of tacitly supporting the NDP, a charge, Nana Konadu vehemently denied on Kumasi-based Kessben Fm on Tuesday. However, the Al-Hajj is in possession of incontrovertible evidence that confirms the NPP has been in league with the breakaway NDP. On the eve of the NDP congress in Kumasi last weekend the Ashanti regional youth organizer of the NPP, Mr. Kennedy Kankam is reported to have delivered 2500 NDP embossed T-shirts, through Owusu Bempah, a deputy communication director of the NDP to the party. Nana Konadu, according to a very reliable source is instrumental in organizing the recent historic meeting between the founder of the National Democratic Congress, Jerry John Rawlings and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo Our investigations has also revealed that the NPP, through Nana Akufo-Addo’s close aides, Mr. Victor Newman and Mr. Osafo-Maafo paid colossal amounts of money to Nana Konadu some few days before the NDP congress in Kumasi. A source close to the former first lady who for obvious reasons don’t want to be named disclosed to this paper that the payment of those monies was the source of friction between Nana Konadu and NDP founding member, Dr. Ofei Agyeman which subsequently led to his resignation from the NDP, although Dr. Agyeman won’t deny nor confirm when contacted.

The Al-Hajj is also in possession of evidence of emissaries of Nana Konadu collecting sums of monies from the offices of the NPP chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey on behalf of the NDP.

Meanwhile, NPP Member of Parliament for Assin North, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong is reported to have purchased a brand new car for Nana Konadu’s secretary, one Sylvia Ahorlu.

Stay tuned for more anon.