Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General who is contesting for the position of National Chairman of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Obed Asamoah, has given indications that work to bring Mr P V Obeng, Captain Kojo Tsikata and Dr Kwesi Botchwey back to the NDC if elected Chairman. Dr Asamoah who is also head of the party's Finance and Re-organisation committees, also says the NDC is broke.
Dr Asamoah who was Speaking to the Ghanaian Chronicle at his McCarthy Hill residence said there was no reason why former colleagues should remain enemies in these times of reconciliation. "… In this era of reconciliation, why can't we reconcile among ourselves first. I think we need to reconcile before we reconcile with those who didn't belong with us in the first place. I don't see anything wrong with it," Obed said in the 45-minute interview.
Paul Victor Obeng a former Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, Dr Kwesi Botchwey, a former Finance Minister and Captain Kojo Tsikata, a former National Security capo under the Provisional National Defence Council and NDC regimes, all fell out of favour with Rawlings in the early days of the NDC rule.
The Ghanaian Chronicle reports that the relationship between the three individuals and Obed has been a source of worry for the Founder and Leader of the NDC, ex-President Jerry John Rawlings. But, according to Obed, the re-organisation of the NDC includes the need to broaden the base of the party.
He, therefore, does not see how this ambition can be achieved by the exclusion of some individuals who have played pivotal roles in making the NDC what it is. Continuing, Obed said one can only have permanent interests and not permanent enemies in politics "because your enemies today may be your friends tomorrow," adding that though there is no guarantee that any of the three former PNDC-NDC colleagues will return to the party if invited, he would marshal their assistance if they are willing to assist the party in its bid to win the 2004 elections.
