As the date for the crucial national delegates congress of the NDC draws near, the crisis within the party appears to be growing from bad to worse.

There are deep seated divisions within the party as most of the executives continue to display open support for either Prof John Evans Atta Miils or Dr Kwesi Botchwey for the flagbearership. Reports from the Ashanti Region indicate disagreements over the choice of candidate for the flagbearership have opened up sharp divisions among party executives.

This became evident following a recent visit to the region by the founder of the party, ex-President Jerry Rawlings. The former President was among thousands of mourners and sympathisers who attended the funeral of the late Chief Imam of the Ashanti Region, who died a few months ago.

According to sources, before the ex-President arrived in the region, Ohene Agyekum, former Ashanti Regional Minister, dispatched invitation letters to executives who are on the side of Prof Mills to welcome the founder of the party. Letters were given to the treasurer, first vice-chairman, regional youth organiser and propaganda secretary believed to be in the camp of the Professor.

The regional chairman, second vice-chairman, the general secretary, women?s organiser and the deputy propaganda secretary were not invited, for the simple reason that they belong to Dr Botchwey?s camp.

Sly Akakpovie, region secretary of the party, who felt uncomfortable about the behaviour of Ohene-Agyekum, told The Evening News that ?the NDC is not the bonafide property of ex-President Rawlings. He is only a founder and even, others supported him to become the founder.?

He said the current deep seated divisions within the party was unhealthy, unfortunate and did not augur well for the party ?since democracy is all about freedom of choice, freedom of speech and association.?

Akakpovie said supporting any of the two contestants for the flagbearership should not bring division, backbiting, ill-accusation and baseless tension among party faithful. He noted that, whiles others were fighting and trying to cement the cracks and loopholes in the NDC, no one should forget that in every political party, when there is internal elections, factionalism on the basis of support for the contestants cannot be avoided. ?Therefore, it is not time for some people to fan the flames of disunity since the NDC is for democracy.?