Former Central Regional Minister Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, has revealed that the organisers of the National Democratic Congress’ unity walk held in Cape Coast on Sunday, 5 November were aware that former President Jerry John Rawlings was not going to turn up.

Several stalwarts of the NDC including former president John Dramani Mahama and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Joshua Alabi took part in the exercise.

Speaking after the walk, Mr Mahama said declaring whether or not he will run for president again on the ticket of the main opposition National Democratic Congress is premature since the party has a lot of work to do before it chooses a flag bearer in December 2018.

“Many people have come up to me and asked me to make a declaration whether I want to stand again or not stand,” he told party members in the Central Region after a Unity Walk on Sunday, 5 November.

“The point I have made is that my declaration of my intention to run or not to run will distract the attention of the party from the work that they have to do and that’s why I say it’s a bit too premature to declare presidential intention,” he explained.

Speaking on the exercise in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Monday, 6 November, Mr Quansah said: “This is not the end of our strategies, it is just a pacesetter as a Region. We are trying to replicate the exercise in all the constituencies in the Region.”

Asked why Mr Rawlings did not show up for the event, Mr Quansah explained: “He didn’t attend the unity walk in Tamale, he didn’t attend the unity walk in Accra, and, so, what makes you think that he will attend the Cape Coast unity walk. We knew former President Rawlings won’t come. We invited him but his aides said he had other engagements.”