“We dare you!” The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears to be telling former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings to declare her presidential ambition for the December 7 polls or hold her peace.
The NDC is asking Mrs. Rawlings to come out and declare her stance boldly instead of hiding behind a group.
Speculations are rife that the former first lady is running for the flag bearership position of the newly formed National Democratic Party (NDP).
The former first family has not been able to talk to the issue apart from comments linking them to the new party by NDP leaders.
The former NDC vice chairperson was in the Ashanti Region over the weekend meeting NDP officials ahead of the formal launch of the new party by the close of the month.
The NDP has opened nominations for its presidential candidate position and Nana Konadu is expected to contest.
Mrs. Rawlings has been linked to the NDP and the party has flaunted her as likely to lead it to the upcoming elections slated for December 7.
she is said to be the main sponsor of the NDC breakaway party.
The closet Nana Konadu has come to be linked with the new party was her response to a question as to whether or not she would run for the position when she said it would happen.
This appears to have stirred up a hornet's nest, with some leading members of the NDC daring her to brave the odds and declare her stance.
The Ashanti regional secretary of the ruling party, who has fallen out with the Rawlingses, Joseph Yammin, has been compelled to come out of his shell, insisting that “If Mrs. Rawlings is really as bold as we are made to believe, then I think that Mrs. Rawlings should own up and tell every body that she is the founder of NDP rather than pretending certain people are pleading with her to lead that party”.
Though the National Organiser of the NDC, Yaw Boateng-Gyan, has personally expressed concern that leading members of the party have left to form the NDP, Yammin, who spoke on Accra-based Radio station XYZ, said “We are least bothered about the development, especially when we don't know who Mrs. Rawlings and the executive are deceiving”.
At Saturday's Legend and Legacy Ball that honored high-life king Abrantie Amakye Dede, host of Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi, who emceed the event, asked Mrs. Rawlings in Twi before a packed crowd “Ebeba so?” (Whether she was prepared to accept the call from the NDP to become flag bearer).
The former first Lady and president of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) responded in the affirmative that “Ebeba so' meaning 'it will happen!”
There and then, the crowd went ecstatic with shouts of “yeah yeah”.
The entry of the NDP into the political fray has sent shivers down the spine of the leadership of the NDC as confirmed by Yaw Boateng-Gyan, since it would scuttle the votes of the ruling party in the upcoming elections, especially at the grassroots where the Rawlingses enjoy a considerable support base.
The party received its final certificate from the Electoral Commission (EC) last Friday, enabling it to operate as political party.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings and founder of the NDC and his wife are believed to be behind the formation of the NDP.
