BUT STILL STICKS TO CALLS FOR HER TO CONTEST 2012

The group, Movement for Konadu 2012 has made a passionate appeal to Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings to consider contesting the 2012 general election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress to save the NDC and Ghanaians at large.

The Public Relations Officer of the group, Henry Oware, who made the appeal in an interview on Xfm 95.1, a privately owned commercial radio station in Accra says the position is apt for the Former First Lady considering her credentials and singular contributions to the growth of the NDC party. “All NDC members know and appreciate the contributions of our Former First Lady within the party, from the day it was planted, through its nurturing to what it is today. Her singular contributions cannot be wished away. Any genuine NDC member knows that Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has been very instrumental even to the success of her husband’s administration, and we believe, now is the time for her,” Mr Oware intimated.

He stressed that the NDC now, more than ever need someone in the caliber of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings to rescue the NDC from the clenched claws of the NPP who have received the “free highway to bash the NDC and demoralize its (the NDC’s) spirits.” He adds that “we analysed the situation on the ground, asked who was going to bell the cat, and the lot fell on Madam”. What is more, the group believes that the time is now ripe for Ghana to have a female president after lagging behind for Liberia to walk away with that first achievement of the first African Country to elect a female president. “Ghana has chalked so many firsts, yet we sit for Liberia to break the record for us. However, when we come home, the party makes her the best candidate for the position.” Henry Oware however concedes the group is yet to meet the Former First Lady personally with their request as all attempts to meet her have been in vain, saying that is why the group has gone public with its request. The first time the group made the appeal was at the June 4 2010 celebration in Tamale in the Northern Region where a 4-yard banner with the inscription MOVEMENT FOR NANA KONADU AGYEMANG RAWLINGS 2012 PRESIDENT was flown high by some foot soldiers. Although political analysts believe the banner is a confirmation of her quest to lead the party founded by her husband former President Jerry John Rawlings, Nana Konadu has remained mum on the sensitive issue making room for more speculations and conjecture. Mr Oware used the opportunity to apologise to the Former First Lady for appearing on the celebration grounds in Tamale with that banner without her consent, saying that was the more reason why the group made public its request. “We’ve been trying to meet her for a very long time now, but there are certain forces who do not want us to meet her. We have been debating this issue for so long, let us meet her, present our case for her to contemplate and this forces will not want us to have any contact with her, and because of this, we had to go public, because there are millions of Ghanaians out there waiting for her to accept our calls for her to take the mantle on behalf of Ghanaian women”. Asked if the group was in no way undermining the presidency of President Mills, more so when the party was yet to request submission of nominations, Henry Oware laughed it off. To him, this is no different from what President John Mills himself has done, declaring his intention to seek the presidential slot for a second time in 2012 ahead of the party’s scheduled time.

“What we have done is no different from what the sitting president, our party leader has done. He has come out publicly to say that he will contest for 2012 when even the time for the declaration of primaries has not been announced,” asking further, “what is different from what we are doing if we are calling on Nana Konadu to come out for 2012, is there any difference?. Even Nana Konadu has not coughed for people to analyse her cough, so what is the big deal about our call?” To ensure that their plan materializes, the Movement for Konadu 2012 has started posting campaign materials of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings around the metropolis.

The 20'X 10' poster has at the top the inscription: FOOT SOLDIERS! FOOT SOLDIERS! FOOT SOLDIERS CALLING! There is a bold picture of the former first lady occupying almost half of the poster; with the caption NANA KONADU, HOPE FOR GHANA 2012. The poster also has pictures of other women leaders globally; like Benazir Bhuto of Pakistan and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. There was a question mark beneath these pictures with an arrow pointing towards the former Ghanaian first lady.

Meanwhile, Aide to the Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has confirmed to Xfm the group, Movement for Konadu 2012 has been making frantic efforts to petition her personally, but has not succeeded. Emmanuel Saint Osei says the party is guided by rules and regulations, adding that there was no way Mrs Rawlings, who also is a member of the National Executive Committee, would do such a thing as she was well aware of its serious implications.

This notwithstanding, Saint Osei says Mrs Rawlings, should she nurture the ambitions of becoming president of the country, would do so at the appropriate time, saying, for now, she has busied herself with what to do to better the live of the ordinary Ghanaian. “At the moment, what Nana Konadu is concentrating on is as to how the party will move forward, as to how we can get food on the table for the Ghanaian citizen, as to how we can bring development to the doorstep of every Ghanaian, and not elections for now. I don’t think she’s actually thinking about contesting. What I know is that she’s actually trying to find out as to how some problems facing the party can be solved, as to how we move on as a party united and moving the party in the right direction”, adding that, “that is specifically what she thinks about and not whatever this people have put out there”.

Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang /Robert Israel Xfm 95.1 Accra, Ghana