NDC Flagbearer: Kwesi Botchway Vs. Prof. Mills

Emerging signals from the membership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), suggests that former vice-president, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, are likely to be the two main candidates who will slug it out at the party’s up coming congress, to choose the flagbearer for the crucial 2004 elections.

Although the NDC is yet to open nominations for prospective candidates, such is the level of support for the two, particularly Dr. Botchwey which interaction with NDC members seemed to strongly suggests, that if it were an athletics race, Dr. Botchwey in particular, would have been accused of a false start.

“Kwesi has already breezed into town in a low key and has been spotted by this paper’s scouts on the Spintex Road whilst Professor Mills is said to be rounding up his activities in Vancouver, Canada to join the fray,” The Independent said.

A section of the NDC membership, including some of the party’s capos who spoke to “The Independent,” opined that the contest for the party’s presidential candidacy must be opened up to more competition between at least two strong candidates.

“It emerged from our interaction with a cross-section of NDC members, that although the activists would not mention names, the other candidate they were referring to was Professor Mills who has not minced words about his intention to contest the party’s top position.”

The likes of Nana Konadu and Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu have also been cited by their supporters as potential candidates. “However, judging from the opinions expressed by a majority of those we spoke to, it is clear that most of the party members do not rate the chances of either of the two, securing the nod of Congress.”

Close aides of Dr. Botchwey confirmed that there is growing feeling among large sections of the NDC membership that Dr. Botchwey should stand for the NDC flagbearership. One of his aides said, “he (Dr. Botchwey) is giving serious consideration to their feelings.” They also confirmed that Dr. Botchwey is indeed in town, but were cagey as to whether he has taken a definite decision on the matter.

Like Professor Mills who initially avoided directly declaring his candidacy and only said he will not disappoint his supporters, Kwesi Botchwey’s aides have also taken the indirect route and said, he will make his intentions known soon.”

“But many NDC watchers who The Independent spoke to, said it was clear that the man Kwesi B, as he is affectionately called, has his sights firmly fixed on the NDC flagbearership and is testing the waters.

It is a situation akin to the situation during the last Nigerian elections when president Olusegun Obasanjo was offered the presidential slot of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by some women. He gave the impression he was not interested, and described the suggestion as an ambush, although he eventually accepted the nomination and contested and won that country’s general elections. This is like an ambush. One can only go forward, the old General reportedly said. Not long after that, Obasanjo was in the saddle to Aso Rock, Nigeria’s version of the Castle.”

Arguably, the finance minister most Ghanaians love and hate depending on a lot of factors, Dr. Botchwey, according to a straw poll the paper claimed to have conducted, is likely to defeat any candidate that he might contest the flagbearership with.

According to some NDC functionaries, Dr. Botchwey’s broad popular appeal and the ease with which he can effectively communicate in many Ghanaian languages, gives him a head start in any presidential bid he might mount on the ticket of the NDC. “He is an old boy who stood tall when he was around, you know, one NDC activist told the paper.”

A number of NDC party faithfuls said Kwesi would be a fantastic candidate if he runs.

Many of the party members also feel Dr. Botchwey has the kind of qualities which should make him a very strong candidate. They recall the manner he spearheaded turn around in the economy in the most difficult circumstances in the 1980s. They cited amongst his strengths, the wide international recognition he has, a leading scholar and African development expert. They also mentioned his extensive international network of contracts, which spans academia, politics and the corporate world.

Dr. Botchwey has since his resignation from the NDC some six years ago been lecturing at the Harvard University in the United States and is now reported to be at another prestigious ivy league institution, Columbia University in New York.

If Kwesi Botchwey runs, Professor Mills will certainly have a good run for his money but the campaign of both men is expected to be civil, considering their background as colleagues at the Law Faculty at Legon before they entered politics with Kwesi Botchwey in the lead.