Former President, Jerry John Rawlings, yesterday held a marathon brain-storming meeting with all the parliamentary candidates who stood on the ticket of the NDC in the just ended elections and national executives of the party.

The meeting was to look at the way forward for the NDC after losing an election for the second time, as well as assess the present state of the party. The national chairman of the party, Obed Asamoah, and the General Secretary, Josiah Aryeh were however absent from the meeting.

Reports reaching The Chronicle indicate that the meeting was an open forum for candidates to share their experiences in the aftermath of the elections and the way forward for the party. According to the source, the defeated flagbearer of the party, Prof. Mills said his task was just like a commander leading an army to war. But he took responsibility for everything that had happened.

The minority leader, Alban Bagbin, is reported to have said that sitting members of parliament and those elected should maintain unity and close ranks because the NPP would attempt to divide their rank by influencing some of them.

The MPs lamented how the elections were conducted and bemoaned lack of support for the parliamentary candidates. Insiders say Obed's absence was due to the mild relationship between him and the founder of the party, which had been in existence for years. However, when the reporter got in touch with Dr. Asamoah to ascertain why he did not attend the meeting, he declined comment. "Am not ready to talk, have a nice evening," he said clearly.