The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Obed Yao Asamoah has admitted on national television that there were problems between him and the party?s Founder, ex-President Jerry Rawlings, Dr Asamoah?s admission on the popular GTV Breakfast Show last Monday confirmed what some independent newspapers have been saying for some time now.
In the interview slot hosted by the Editor of The Daily Dispatch, Ben Ephson, Dr Asamoah was asked whether the ?reconciliation meeting? between the two confirmed private media reports that there were problems between them. The former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice was his usual frank self: ?Certainly there was. I mean if you were a witness before our Congress in April and thereafter, certainly there were misunderstandings that had to be sorted out. There were problems, there is no question about that. You cannot deny that, But I think we have agreed that we should put those problems behind and that is what has happened. We always have to see eye to eye with each other but indeed it is not possible for all of us to think alike. However, what we are saying is that, let bygones be bygones and let us work together for the benefit of the NDC and Ghana.?
On the sincerity of their reconciliation meeting, Dr Asamoah had this to say: ?I think it is sincere, since the Congress in April and persons interested in the welfare of Ghana have been concerned about disunity within the NDC in such a way that it can offer effective opposition to the government. There had been efforts from several angles and also from me in particular as Chairman of the party to ensure that divisions within the party were healed. I think that those efforts finally culminated in the meeting that we held last Thursday and I think that everyday is committed to working together. ?What lessons had the NDC learnt from being in opposition and how are they going to use it for its benefit?? was the next question.
Dr. Asamoah replied that ?first of all, we do appreciate the power of the thumb, which means therefore that one has to fashion policies that would appeal to the electorate in future and so, we should be thinking that ultimately, we can get back to power only with the support of the people. I always feel that one must be concerned about the attitude of the floating voter. He is the one who finally determines the outcome of elections.
You know each party has fanatical supporters, those supporters would always be there but there are those who are the middle of the road voters, who swing from one party to the other, depending upon their perception of what that party will mean for them if that party were in power. You will need to appeal to these voters for them to support you and that is the area that we should address our attention. And I believe that we are developing what will let us win the 2004 elections.?
The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Obed Yao Asamoah has admitted on national television that there were problems between him and the party?s Founder, ex-President Jerry Rawlings, Dr Asamoah?s admission on the popular GTV Breakfast Show last Monday confirmed what some independent newspapers have been saying for some time now.
In the interview slot hosted by the Editor of The Daily Dispatch, Ben Ephson, Dr Asamoah was asked whether the ?reconciliation meeting? between the two confirmed private media reports that there were problems between them. The former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice was his usual frank self: ?Certainly there was. I mean if you were a witness before our Congress in April and thereafter, certainly there were misunderstandings that had to be sorted out. There were problems, there is no question about that. You cannot deny that, But I think we have agreed that we should put those problems behind and that is what has happened. We always have to see eye to eye with each other but indeed it is not possible for all of us to think alike. However, what we are saying is that, let bygones be bygones and let us work together for the benefit of the NDC and Ghana.?
On the sincerity of their reconciliation meeting, Dr Asamoah had this to say: ?I think it is sincere, since the Congress in April and persons interested in the welfare of Ghana have been concerned about disunity within the NDC in such a way that it can offer effective opposition to the government. There had been efforts from several angles and also from me in particular as Chairman of the party to ensure that divisions within the party were healed. I think that those efforts finally culminated in the meeting that we held last Thursday and I think that everyday is committed to working together. ?What lessons had the NDC learnt from being in opposition and how are they going to use it for its benefit?? was the next question.
Dr. Asamoah replied that ?first of all, we do appreciate the power of the thumb, which means therefore that one has to fashion policies that would appeal to the electorate in future and so, we should be thinking that ultimately, we can get back to power only with the support of the people. I always feel that one must be concerned about the attitude of the floating voter. He is the one who finally determines the outcome of elections.
You know each party has fanatical supporters, those supporters would always be there but there are those who are the middle of the road voters, who swing from one party to the other, depending upon their perception of what that party will mean for them if that party were in power. You will need to appeal to these voters for them to support you and that is the area that we should address our attention. And I believe that we are developing what will let us win the 2004 elections.?
