Rawlings asks for 'national president' from NDC delegates

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has tasked delegates attending the Special Delegates Congress of the opposition National Democratic Congress to look beyond the party and elect a presidential candidate capable of winning Election 2008.
Addressing the Congress at the University of Ghana campus, he told the delegates that the whole nation was waiting for the party to deliver a flagbearer capable of driving the NDC machine to victory.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, you as the delegates have that responsibility, but I must plead with you, as close as you may be to a delegate and know a flagbearer or whatever it is, a potential flagbearer that well, I think it is equally important that you listen to the people behind you, the people you represent. What are they asking of you? What do they want? Who do they want? Because it’s not your number here that will create a national president.
“You may be able to create an NDC President , a flagbearer for the NDC but we are looking for a national president and that national President will be produced not by 1700 delegates but by millions of people outside this hall and I hope you’ve been listening to them, ladies and gentlemen, so that we do not disappoint them.”
The former President who excited the gathering with the announcement of what he said was his ‘new name’ on the streets, “Jerry Boom”, said the country was tired of the misrule of the New Patriotic Party government and were calling for a change.
“This country is waiting to say, enough is enough! The violations of human rights should come to an end. I keep reminding you that is what the colours of our flag represent. Ladies and Gentlemen, be they workers, teachers, professionals, soldiers, policemen, doctors, chiefs and queen mothers, and our people, they are all tired and they want a change and they are looking forward to that change from this vehicle. Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s not disappoint them. This country wants the restoration of Freedom and Justice.”
The former President’s short speech elicited a standing ovation from delegates, who were later addressed by the four candidates; Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Prof. J.E.A. Mills and Mr. Eddie Annan.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has tasked delegates attending the Special Delegates Congress of the opposition National Democratic Congress to look beyond the party and elect a presidential candidate capable of winning Election 2008.
Addressing the Congress at the University of Ghana campus, he told the delegates that the whole nation was waiting for the party to deliver a flagbearer capable of driving the NDC machine to victory.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, you as the delegates have that responsibility, but I must plead with you, as close as you may be to a delegate and know a flagbearer or whatever it is, a potential flagbearer that well, I think it is equally important that you listen to the people behind you, the people you represent. What are they asking of you? What do they want? Who do they want? Because it’s not your number here that will create a national president.
“You may be able to create an NDC President , a flagbearer for the NDC but we are looking for a national president and that national President will be produced not by 1700 delegates but by millions of people outside this hall and I hope you’ve been listening to them, ladies and gentlemen, so that we do not disappoint them.”
The former President who excited the gathering with the announcement of what he said was his ‘new name’ on the streets, “Jerry Boom”, said the country was tired of the misrule of the New Patriotic Party government and were calling for a change.
“This country is waiting to say, enough is enough! The violations of human rights should come to an end. I keep reminding you that is what the colours of our flag represent. Ladies and Gentlemen, be they workers, teachers, professionals, soldiers, policemen, doctors, chiefs and queen mothers, and our people, they are all tired and they want a change and they are looking forward to that change from this vehicle. Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s not disappoint them. This country wants the restoration of Freedom and Justice.”
The former President’s short speech elicited a standing ovation from delegates, who were later addressed by the four candidates; Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Prof. J.E.A. Mills and Mr. Eddie Annan.