JJ Losing Grip On Volta

Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings’ hope of going to Aflao in the Volta Region to blast President John Mills and fire another salvo into the camp of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the 33rd Anniversary of the June 4, seem to have been aborted as he appears to be fast losing grip on his home region with his recent conducts, including a total disrespect for some chief from the region.

Last Saturday, Mr. Rawlings’ certified parliamentary candidate for the Ketu South Constituency, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Albert Ziga was miserably thrashed by a Deputy Finance Minister Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, onetime Mr. Rawlings’ darling boy, but now been blacklisted as one of the “traitors” by the Rawlings’ household.

Mr. Kwetey pulled 403 votes with Mr. Ziga whom Mr. Rawlings recently endorsed to be retained by the Ketu South NDC constituency delegates, managing a paltry 60 votes.

The victory by Mr. Kwetey who has been listed amongst E.T. Mensah, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Sherry Aryeetey, Tony Aidoo, Ben Kumbour, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, Ras Mubarak among others as “traitors,” is giving credence to the perception that Mr. Rawlings is increasingly becoming worthless even in his home region.

Mr. Rawlings depreciating popularity has been attributed to his wife’s unbridled power over him, leaving his manhood in doubt as far as Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings is concerned.

Recently, some chiefs from the Volta Region, fearing the worse for their loved son, stormed his Ridge residence to prevail upon him to bury the hatchet with President Mills, but Mr. Rawlings is said to have given them a list of demands to be sent to the President to address.

But even before the chiefs could meet with President Mills, Mr. Rawlings made his “Traitors and Enemies” speech at the 30th Anniversary celebration of the 31st December Women’s Movement at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra on May 15, thus scattering the gains made by the chiefs as well as some prominent people in the NDC, whose earnest desire is to see Mills and Rawlings come together.

Currently, there are reports that his wife, Nana Konadu, has just taken delivery of a huge consignment of T-shirts with her pictures printed on it from Canada for the out-dooring of a new party.

Although Mr. Rawlings is said not to be in support of the idea, he is unable to call his wife to order, to rescind her decision to use the 33rd Anniversary celebration of June 4 to outdoor their new party of which she automatically is the Presidential candidate. The out-dooring ceremony is to take place in Aflao, the border town of the Volta Region, from where one enters Lome, the capital city of Togo.

Political analysts see this event as ex-President Rawlings being led to the political slaughterhouse. “It is a break or make situation for him as far as his stake in the NDC is concerned”, remarked an analyst.

There is even a joke making the rounds in the Volta Region with the suggestion that Mr. Rawlings might be under a spell.

At Aflao five other contestants who were in the race with Mr. Kwetey fared respectively as – Raphael Alorwu got 82, Charles Nypson Agbagedy 30, Nicholas Woclachie 6, Elizabeth Kuenyefu 3, and Frederick Alipui 1 at on event which was held at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church premises at Agbozume.

The Ketu south Constituency primary was postponed during the nationwide NDC parliamentary primaries in anticipation of a split of the Constituency but it was not affected.

Speaking upon his victory, Mr. Kwetey warned the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to watch out because “NPP, you have trouble coming your way.”

He also thanked his constituents, especially the youth for ensuring he emerged winner.

“I don’t look at this victory as my personal victory, because I never set on this journey at all for my own sake. But I look at it as victory for particularly the youth of Ketu South… that want to make sure that every opportunity that I have had they also can have.”

Fifi assured also the constituents of dedicated service.