By Sedi Bansah

Contrary to the claims by the Rawlingses that Prof. J. E. A. Mills’ incompetence as President of Ghana is what is informing Konadu Agyeman Rawlings’ decision to contest him for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearership slot for the 2012 elections, The Herald’s probing has led to the discovery that the former First Lady, by her declaration, is just fulfilling an uncontrolled ambition she has natured over the years.

The Herald has it that President Mills and ex-President J. J. Rawlings, contrary to what the public has been made to believe, have always been in touch with each other over issues concerning the ruling party and the state.

The paper is authoritatively informed that on several occasions, Nana Konadu had also been invited to the Castle by President Mills to put her views across on governance and matters affecting the NDC.

However, on all these occasions, she refused to honour any of the invitations, knowing very well that she had her eyes on the seat the President is occupying.

Apart from President Mills, it did not come as a surprise to many discerning party observers when Nana Konadu disclosed to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NDC that she would contest for the party’s flagbearership slot for the 2012 elections.

Apparently, on that day, Mr. Rawlings had sent his spokesman, Mr. Kofi Adams, to the Castle to tell President Mills that he was ready to meet him once again to resolve the differences between them that had been hurting the party and the running of government.

The tale has it that President Mills had accepted his mentor’s proposal wholeheartedly and with the hope that things were going to get better, only to learn in the next moment that Nana Konadu had declared her intention, to the party’s NEC, to compete him (Mills) for the party’s flagbearership position for the 2012 elections.

The crystallization into reality of the rumours about Nana Konadu to contest Mills for the party’s leadership in 2012, that started immediately Mills assumed the presidency, could not be put on the supposed latter’s ineptitude as the president of the nation and the leader of the NDC party, but on the unbridled ambition of Nana Konadu to become president of Ghana in her lifetime.

The Herald has it that Nana Konadu, in nurturing this ambition, has developed the habit of visiting the graveside of the legendary Yaa Asantewaa, the 17th Century Ashanti female warrior from Ejisu, Ashanti, to psyche herself up in making history of being the first female Ghanaian President. She has also named one of her daughters after the strong woman in whom she finds inspiration.

According to her close associates, she has made many trips to the graveside of Maria Eva Peron, wife of Colonel Juan Peron – the legendary Argentine leader – who became so powerful and overshadowed her husband.

But for her untimely demise from cancer at a tender age of 33 in 1952, Eva Peron was on her way to succeeding her husband.

Observers of Konadu have noticed that her concerns, as expressed, have not been about the well-being of the nation, but that of the party, the vehicle on which she will ride to fulfill her lifelong ambition.

Others in the party have also told The Herald that Mr. Rawlings has always been supportive of his wife’s dream of being president, hence President Mills who was endorsed by Mr. Rawlings at Swedru in Central Region to lead the NDC in 2000, was being used to set the stage for Mrs. Rawlings to realize her dream.

In addition to the recent backing that she has received for her presidential ambitions from her husband, Nana Konadu has also found an ally in the person of Mr. Herbert Mensah, a prominent businessman close to the Rawlingses.

Herbert Mensah is not only a friend to the Rawlingses, but also fathers their grandson, brought forth by Dr. Ezanetor Rawlings, their daughter and eldest child.

Though Herbert Mensah has been held by close associates of the Rawlingses to be fanning the presidential ambitions of Nana Konadu in kind and in spirit, the former has recently publicly denied such claims as baseless.

One other player in the unfolding drama whose declared loyalty to the Konadu cause, which has stunned the NDC party hierarchy, is Kofi Adams.

Kofi Adams is said to be a friend to the Mills family, and was introduced by President Mills to Mr. Rawlings. It is, therefore, surprising to many people in the NDC and Mills himself, who are aware of this fact, to hear the public utterances of Kofi Adams against President Mills and his position on his (Mills’s) representation of the party come the 2012 elections.

There are also contrary reports that though Kofi Adams shows his face publicly as supporting Nana Konadu’s ambitions, he has been expressing doubts to some party member’s behind the former First Lady, about the possibility of her bid and ambition seeing daylight. More to come!