The Observer can confirm that series of meetings have been held by top gurus of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the last few weeks with the aim of finding ways to discredit the running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Information available to GO indicate that based on these series of meetings, a team of supposed crack NDC Communicators and perceived experts in the field of communication has been put together to bring the image of the NPP running mate any potential influence he could have on the outcome of the 2012 general election in favor of the NPP into disrepute.

According to impeccable sources within the corridors of power, many NDC top guns feel the renowned economist is potent threat to the fortunes of the NDC in the December elections based on his generally accepted image as a brilliant economist and technocrat.

These fears were said to have been heightened initially when Dr. Bawumia visited the Northern region, specifically the Mamprugu areas together with the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo.

Reports from sources on the ground as well as from the NDC executives showed that Dr. Bawumia received massive endorsements and support from traditional rulers and the general populace in Mamprugu areas especially and the Northern Region as a whole.

The last straw which broke the camel’s back and which necessitated the NDC to plot to destroy Bawumia was the lecture delivered on the State of the Economy in early May. All available information from government circles indicate that the lecture handed a killer punch to the government’s communication apparatus and threw its propaganda machinery into a state of panic.

The subsequent failure of the government’s communication team to deal with the damage done by Dr. Bawumia’s lecture, even after drawing in perceived gurus in economics such as Moses Asaga and Tony Aidoo further complicated the issues.

Dr. Bawumia’s general acceptability with various sections of the population and the failure of the NDC to do any damage to his personality and credibility is said to be a great cause of worry for the NDC as they grossly underrated the potential impact of the choice of the celebrated economist as running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo.

The last of these series of meetings, we are told, run deep into last Saturday night and ended with the information of a six member team whose main focus is to find various means to discredit the NPP running mate as soon as possible before the campaign for the 2012 elections moves into full swing.

It is understood that this team is under the personal supervision of a very high ranking member of government and comprises two Deputy Ministers, one Deputy Chief of Staff, one young NDC Communicator and former National Security boss.

The last meeting, we gathered agreed that the NDC communications machinery moves into a full media offensive using newspapers in the stable of the NDC like the Informer, Daily Post, Crystal Clear Lens etc in the diabolic plot against Bawumia.

The hit squad at the meeting were said to have been generally unhappy with the failure of the NDC propaganda outfit to do damage to Dr. Bawumia despite the fact that various attempts have been made in the past to disrepute the reputation of the NPP Vice-Presidential candidate.

The hit men agreed that NDC Communicators be issued directives to treat the image of Nana Akufo-Addo and to ensure that they do not spare any moment to launch blistering attacks on the economist on any platform they appear on.