The Eastern regional chairman of the National Reform Party (NRP), Mr. Atta Dogoe, has said that the choice of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, as flagbearer of the National democratic Congress (NDC) for 2004 elections was a mistake. This is because Prof. Mills lost against the current president, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, while enjoying incumbency and therefore he is likely to be defeated again by Mr. Kufuor in the next elections.
“With all kinds of support, euphoria and charisma of Rawlings around him, he lost. What other chances are there for him to win this time?” he asked. Mr. Dogoe was speaking in an interview with the ‘Chronicle’ on his assessment of the chances of the political parties in the next elections. He said another defeat for Prof. Mills would end his political career.
Mr. Dogoe condemned recent criticisms by former President Jerry Rawlings against President Kufuor, saying no matter how poorly Mr. Kufuor’s government is performing, Mr. Rawlings could have pointed this out in a decent manner.
He advised the ex-president to choose his words carefully to befit his status as a statesman.
On the debate as to whether the state should fund political parties, Mr. Dogoe said state funding should be in the form of logistics supplies to the parties, which should be shared proportionately.
