? Backs JJ, Chastises party?s national executive

Prof. Kofi Awoonor, a top member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC,) has attributed the party?s 2004 defeat to a combination of lack commitment and absolute support from the national executive of the party. He pointed out that the 2004 flagbearer of the party, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, did not receive the needed support from the national executives of the party, and owing to this and other factors, the structures on the ground were not nurtured into a strong opposition capable of wresting power from the ruling NPP.

Prof. Awoonor made these remarks at the Dome/Kwabenya Constituency of the NDC delegates conference held at the Atomic clubhouse.

?The national executive of the party did not do its work well, and even some were not interested in victory of the party.?

He cautioned members of the party who want to relegate the founder and father of the party, Jerry Rawlings, to the background, saying that ?If anybody thinks that he can take this party anywhere without Jerry Rawlings then he is deceiving himself.?

He added that for every 10 votes cast in favor of the NDC during the 2004 election, seven were because of Jerry Rawlings, who is the only person the NPP fears now, for which no force within the party can neutralize him.

On his part, the regional vice chairman of the party, Flt-Lt. Nii Tackie, advised members to be watchful of some people preaching confusion on the issue of Rawlings? and Obed factions in the party, which, he asserted, in some cases is not true.

?The founder and father of the party has been constitutionalised and for now there is only one flagbearer and a chairman whether winnable or not winnable candidates, therefore till elections are held they remain our leaders,? he cautioned.

He added that NDC did not work well in the Central and Western regions and that led to their defeat in the 2004 elections, and urged the national executives to work hard this time in those regions.

He later on adopted a new slogan for the party, which is ?Tsui mli,? a Ga word meaning ?from the heart,? suggesting that supporters of the party now have to support the party from the heart but not because of money.