The news in town is that, the former First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Konadu Rawlings, who is also one of the chairpersons of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Ghana, has formally informed the leadership of her party through its Council of Elders that, she will indeed contest the flag-bearership contest of her party when they get to the bridge!

To be honest, this was no news to some of us. I have barely a year ago written an article which was published widely on ‘why Nana Konadu was the very best for the NDC’. I authoritatively stated then that, she was definitely to be a candidate in the leadership contest of her party for the 2012 elections.
I received lots of criticisms then with some saying that I was doing propaganda for the NPP and also trying to cause confusion within the NDC. Barely a year after, I stand vindicated!

The question to ask is, what is the big deal about Mrs. Konadu Rawlings desiring to contest the leadership contest of a party she earnestly helped formed? Indeed she is older than president Mills in the NDC! The truth is that, when the NDC was virtually the “NGO” of the Rawlingses, president Mills was then a Civil Servant with the Internal Revenue Service.

President Mills was indeed plucked from obscurity to the limelight when he was made Vice President of the Republic of Ghana by courtesy of the husband of Nana Konadu Rawlings, Dr Rawlings. And when the time came for Chairman Rawlings to leave the presidency by courtesy of the 1992 constitution, he “Swedru declared” then Vice President Mills as his heir apparent!

In the case of Nana Konadu Rawlings she is not saying she should be “Swedru declared” all she is saying that when the “NGO” known as NDC opens nominations for its presidential primaries, she will be a candidate too. Pure and simple!
Some apologists and sycophants of President Mills then broke loose questioning the raison d'être behind Nana Konadu’s declaration of intention to contest the leadership contest of her party.

What readers must be told is that, it was president Mills who was the first to declare that, he will seek re-election as president of Ghana. Because he is the president, he was seen to be “above” the law; which is the constitution of the NDC.
The “NDCians” have said that, it is a breach of their constitution for any of its members to jump the gun by announcing his or her intention to contest any elections within the NDC including its flag-bearership race before official announcement from the party. The question to ask now is who was the first to breach the rules of the game?

The truth is that, as a Ghanaian of sound mind and a member of the NDC among other requirements, Mrs. Konadu Rawlings FULLY qualifies to contest the leadership contest of her party.

So all those who have almost gone to “coma” with the now confirmed candidature of Mrs. Rawlings must rather go into the trenches to canvass for votes for their preferred candidates if they regain their consciousness at all!

The bitter truth is that, Nana Konadu just like those even criticizing her decision from within the NDC can also contest to hold the flag of their party if they so wish or should better shut up!

Some of us see her laudable intention to contest as another contribution to the general democratic credentials of the Republic of Ghana and therefore wish her every luck. Good Day dear reader.

AKILU SAYIBU, UK
Email: Akilu.sayibu@live.uwe.ac.uk