Confirmed! Nana Konadu Joins NDP

It is now confirmed that former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is behind the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP), a breakaway party from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The core supporters of the NDP are disgruntled members of the NDC.


The NDP has also rubbished media reports that NDC founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings, would be campaigning for the ruling party, saying that he was in the boat of the breakaway party.


Even though Nana Konadu continues to remain tight-lipped over whether or not she was behind the new party, initial speculations had linked her as the brain behind the NDP without any concrete proof.


However, Mrs. Rawlings has been captured on an audio recording conscientising NDP faithful, telling them why they needed to join the new party to chart a new course.


The former First Lady is believed to have made these and other comments during a meeting with NDP sympathizers at the SSNIT Hall in Kumasi when she visited the Ashanti Region somewhere last week.

The NDP presidential hopeful is expected to begin her Brong Ahafo regional tour soon as part of the party's attempt at wining more souls.


Mrs. Rawlings, who spoke Twi, expressed disappointment in the current leadership of the NDC which she accused of destroying the party they all toiled so much to form.


“You all know that we used our strength and hard work to build the NDC but they have used their strength to collapse it; that is what hurts me sometimes”, she noted.


In that regard, she noted, “If we have come today; we want you to know that we are not following a negative course... that is why we have the dove as our symbol”.


She extolled the virtues of the bird-- a sign of peace, unity, togetherness, honesty and closeness.

She asked supporters of the newly formed party to help wrest power from the NDC in the upcoming general elections.


Nana Konadu said, “They say they are a Congress and that everybody is welcome to join; so you can't discriminate against any person and say that this woman can't join...”


She therefore implored that “before you retire to bed everyday, I beg all of you to remember to go on your knees and pray for the NDP; so that we become victorious to enable us to come and change the country with good policies for things to be better for you, your children and grandchildren and every Ghanaian”.


She claimed a dove does not begin looking elsewhere upon the death of its male partner.


That, according to Mrs. Rawlings, “signifies something-that we are determined to be faithful to people and an aspect of faithfulness is the reason why I have brought my baby today”.

She explained why the party came up with the red, green, white and black umbrella with the eagle on top as the symbol of the NDC, making nonsense the assertion of some individuals who claimed to have brought the idea.


The Rawlings Factor


Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Communications team of the NDP and jointly signed by Dr. Hilarrus Asiwome Abiwu, Dr. David Sunu and Ursula Tagoe, has denied claims by leading members of the NDC that Mr. Rawlings had endorsed President John Mahama and would therefore campaign for him in the upcoming elections.


“This is practically impose, and is only a cheap propaganda by the ruling NDC to use the name of the founder whom they have literally ostracized from the party to energise their inactive campaign machinery,” the statement said.


They talked of loss of integrity and deep-seated corruption in the NDC, wondering whether those were the equalities the NDC wanted Mr. Rawlings to be campaigning for.

“It is the candid view of the NDP that the question of which party former President Rawlings will campaign for in the December elections is a foregone conclusion as the core values of the NDP and those of President Rawlings are deeply interlinked”, the statement noted.


Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Campaign Coordinator of John Mahama 2012 , had told the media that Mr. Rawlings would lead the NDC campaign, a move the NDP has described as a big joke.


The leadership of the NDP has entreated their numerous supporters and the Ghanaian public to ignore the propaganda schemes of the NDC and be rest assured that President Rawlings would campaign for the NDP for the December elections since “our formation is geared towards restoring those values he loved and remains steadfast to defend and protect”.