Mills hurt by Rawlings' 'Konongo kaya' remarks

A former Supreme Court judge, Justice Kpegah has confirmed that "serious moves are being made to resolve the differences” between former President Rawlings and President Mills.

He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) needs the support of both stalwarts in order to retain power and that all well-meaning supporters of the party should rally behind the chiefs from the Volta region to bring the animosity to a closure.

Some chiefs from the Volta region on Tuesday, went to see the former first couple, Mr. Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, in an attempt to help resolve the emerging factionalism within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The chiefs were led by the Awomefia of Anlo, Togbe Sri III.

In an interview with Radio XYZ 93.1 FM, Justice Kpegah stated that “I am worried because if NDC is not in power, some of us will be worse of in Ghana,” adding, President Mills and Mr. Rawlings must be brought together if the party is keen on holding on to power.

Recounting what might have sparked the rift between the former political tag-team, Justice Kpegah said:

“I know J.J. is deeply hurt by the unsigned letter allegedly written to him by Prof. Mills, which was published in the Daily Guide. Even this letter, I know, it is not His Excellency President Mills’ style of writing… and [J.J. Rawlings] is hurt by [President Mills’] inability to distance himself from this libelous letters. I also know that President Mills is hurt by J.J. Rawlings’ reference to him at Legon as Konongo Kaya.”

He said the insinuations from both sides has caused the fissure and deepened the bitterness between the two leaders.

On whether Mr Rawlings’s absence from the campaign will affect the chances of the NDC, Justice Kpegah indicated that: “I will not state categorically that if J.J. does not take part, President Mills will lose” but “It is because of Rawlings that the president gets the support from the Volta region.”

He said the purported meeting of regional ministers in the Ashanti region over the same issue should have taken place in the Volta region because that is where a large chunk of the party’s votes comes from.

Touching on Mr. Rawlings’ defense of the party’s deputy General Secretary, Kofi Adams, after the allegation that the latter was scheming to get the NDC out of power, Justice Kpegah said he cannot blame the former president for standing by his employee because that is what is expected of a soldier worth his salt.

He however laid the blame squarely on the doorsteps of party chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, stating that he should have taken immediate steps to apprehend the situation when the cracks begun to emerge.