... Loses Grip On Party
The People's National Convention (PNC) may soon hold an extraordinary congress to elect another Presidential Candidate, following the decision by the party's Presidential Candidate, Dr Edward Mahama, to become the running mate of the Presidential Candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom.

A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PNC, Thomas Akum-Yong, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that the committee is due to meet soon on the reported alliance between the party and the CPP, stressing, "I can tell you that we will definitely take the decisive decision of electing a new presidential candidate to contest the December elections." Mr Akum-Yong said the "so-called alliance is unconstitutional", adding, “We cannot allow Dr Mahama to sell a party some of us fought very hard to build when he was not in the country."

The NEC member, who is also the Ashanti Regional Chairman and Parliamentary Candidate for Builsa North, said the party has no problem with Dr Mahama deciding to be the running mate of Dr Nduom "but there is no way we are going to allow him to decimate the PNC".

Earlier, the Deputy National Organiser of the party, Abubakar Kwashie Ebla, had described the supposed alliance as unconstitutional. He said although the Congress of the PNC gave room for such talks, any move would be inconclusive without the blessing of the NEC and the elders of the party. He told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview that the "hurried and 'clandestine" manner in which the whole exercise was undertaken makes some of the national executive members smell something fishy. The electoral alliance between the two parties, which was announced on Wednesday, had it that they had put up a common presidential candidate in the person of Dr Nduom of the CPP, while Dr Mahama became his running mate. It was also agreed that the two parties would file common parliamentary candidates.

However, Mr Akum-Yong expressed shock at the fact that such a decision could be taken without the participation of the NEC of the PNC. "I am a member of the NEC but I was not consulted. Again, the people who went for the meeting with the CPP had no locus for such a meeting and they could, therefore, not be taken seriously," he said. He emphasised that the initial agreement for any electoral alliance between the two parties is that the CPP would adopt the PNC's symbol, the palm tree, so that tile identity of both parties would be maintained "It is, therefore, a surprise that the so-called alliance did not consider this but portrays the impression that the PNC has been swallowed," he stated.

Mr Akum-Yong indicated that the rank and file of the party in the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country are upset by Dr Mahama's behaviour, adding that many of them have threatened to resign from the party to join others if the decision is allowed to hold. The NEC member said people who seek office as President of this country must be prepared to look for funds to support their campaigns. "When President Kufuor was in opposition, he was able to mobilise resources to finance his campaign and won the election. It is exactly what we expected our Presidential Candidate to do, unfortunately, he did not".

In a related development, the PNC Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebilla, John Ndebugre, also joined the fray and said he has been vindicated by the unilateral decision of the party's Presidential Candidate to become a running mate of Dr Nduom.Mr. Ndebugre said he had always had problems with Dr Mahama for taking unilateral decisions irrespective of the party's constitution or congress decision. The Zebilla MP, who is challenging the eligibility of Dr Mahama to contest the December 2008 as the PNC's presidential candidate, added that "Dr Mahama, after constituting a kangaroo congress made up of his friends and relatives", did not respect the decision of "his own congress".

He said Dr Mahama, as an individual, could decide to become Dr Nduom's running mate but it would be wrong to unilaterally decide to become the running mate of another Presidential Candidate after his party's congress has elected him to lead it to capture power to rule the nation. Mr Ndebugre said Dr Mahama has shown his true colours by sidelining congress to play second fiddle to another presidential candidate. When he was informed about the developments within his party, Dr Mahama appealed for calm and said he would formally make his position on the alliance deal between the PNC and the CPP to Ghanaians on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. He said until then his only plea to both his supporters and antagonists would be to remain calm in the midst of the political suspense.

Breaking his silence since the alliance story broke, he told the Daily Graphic that as the leader of a mass political party "I have to be cautious and consider whatever I say very carefully". He said he, together with the party, would organise a press conference on Tuesday where he would state exactly where the PNC as a party had got to and how things ought to proceed.He described the alliance development between the PNC and the CPP as a national and global issue that transcended sectional politics because so many stakeholders have interest in the unfolding event.He said he could understand the apprehensions of some supporters because there are bound to be hiccups in such situations."These are very interesting times and the suspense and drama are good for the nation." he stated.

He said expectations brings hopes because those in favour of the alliance are hopeful while those against it are also hopeful. He gave the assurance that "I am a leader and I judge my leadership qualities by how much I listen to the people". He said he had always believed that leaders must live simply so that others might simply live.