NDC banks hope on Rawlings

Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seem to have turned over a new leaf, now that they have lost political power after continuously denigrating and bastardizing their founder for criticizing them.

The rank and file of the party, who did not take the criticisms of the founder – former President Jerry John Rawlings – lightly during the previous Mills-Mahama administration, have started eulogising him.

The sudden show of love and support for Mr Rawlings and his ideals by the NDC reached a crescendo during the 36th Anniversary of the 31st December ‘revolution’held in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, on Sunday.

The event, which was mostly ignored by the rank and file of the NDC over the past eight years, was hugely patronized at the weekend.

The event’s brochure listed about 56 people comprising members of the central and local planning committees.

A senior member of the party, in an exclusive interview with DAILY GUIDE, revealed that the new attitude towards former President Rawlings showed that “Jerry John Rawlings was crucial to the revival of the NDC at this time.”

According to him, the party had realized that the Rawlings factor could help revive it (party) to capture power from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“The selection of Ho for the celebration is part of a grand scheme to use Rawlings to unite the NDC. Ho was also chosen to test the grounds for the grand plan and use it as a rallying point to reach out to other members of the NDC across the country,” he added.

The cadre, who has continuously backed former President Rawlings, despite his closeness to the NDC machinery, revealed that he (Rawlings) could not be deceived by the praise-singing and sudden display of affection and support for him.

“Rawlings remains the same; he has forgiven them already; he can’t be stopped or bought by anyone. He will continue to do what is right before God and man, even if it hurts the NDC,” he averred/

This year’s event started with a mammoth procession through the principal streets of Ho, led by former Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Second Deputy Speaker Alban Bagbin, former Youth Organiser, Ludwig Hlordze, among others.

The whole city came to a standstill, as many boycotted church activities to partake in the celebration.

Thousands of NDC supporters, most of who had come from far and near, backed their founder.

Senior members of the NDC such as former President John Mahama; Vice Chairperson of the NDC, Anita De Sosoo; General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia; Victor Gbeho; Dan Abodakpui; former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah and Larry Gbevlo Lartey, were in attendance.

Others were Ekwow Spio-Gabrah, Joshua Alabi, Sylvester Mensah, Joe Gidisu, Akua Sena Dansua and Koku Anyidoho.