Accra, May 27, GNA - The Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings campaign on Friday denied that attempts were made to dissuade her from contesting President John Evans Atta Mills in the primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

"It is not true that attempts were made to dissuade Nana Konadu from contesting President Mills," it said in a statement signed by Mr Berrick Namburr, Campaign Coordinator. "It is equally a lie that members of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress prevailed upon Nana Konadu not to contest the presidential primaries," the statement added.

It described as 93a series of calculated lies and vile propaganda" claims that several unsuccessful attempts were made by various individuals and groups of people to stop Nana Konadu from contesting the NDC presidential candidature. "These lies are being spread to create an impression that the former first couple had a veiled agenda to contest President Mills irrespective of his performance in government."

The statement said "all discerning Ghanaians have appreciated the former President's (Jerry John Rawlings') genuine concerns about the manner the Government has handled pending issues of criminality and corruption involving the past government".

It said the agitations by foot soldiers across the length and breadth of the country were not elicited by former President Rawlings' comments but were spontaneous reactions borne by the failure of the Mills government to heed the voice of the men and women who supported the NDC to victory.

"These same disappointed supporters, concerned that the NDC government was dragging the party into opposition, made the decision of calling for a Nana Konadu candidature." The statement said it was therefore "absurd and ridiculous that infantile attempts are being made by some people to reduce the candidature of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings to one of a petty desire to be President by all means.

"Nana Konadu like majority of the followers of the NDC party recognises the state of hopelessness and despondency the current government has brought into the ranks of the party. Nana Konadu is contesting the primaries because she recognises that our current presidency has no vision for the party and is not driven by a desire to perpetuate the ideals of probity, accountability, freedom and justice.

"More importantly, Nana Konadu is contesting the Presidency because she believes in the ideals of the NDC, which recognises that all persons who qualify according to the constitution of the party and Ghana and who have served their party diligently have the inalienable right to put themselves up for selection as officers of the party." The campaign team called on all delegates and supporters of the party to continue to remain resolute and "withstand all the direct and subtle pressures at twisting their arm to vote against Nana Konadu".