Rawlings begs NDC to reinstate Kofi Adams

When the NDC founder and Former President, Jerry John Rawlings challenged President John Dramani Mahama to “restore integrity to the presidency, the government and the party” many are those who are still grappling to understand him.

At a special delegates conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) held in Kumasi the Ashanti regional capital, Former President Jerry John Rawlings told President Mahama; “today is your first hurdle towards being an elected President.

Electoral victory will depend on a number of things-how quickly you can restore integrity to the presidency, your government and to the party”.

Unknown to many Ghanaians the NDC founder according to this paper's usual reliable information, was only re-echoing his earlier request to the leadership of the party to unconditionally re-instate the disgraced former deputy secretary and aide to the Rawlingses, Mr. Kofi Adams.

Former President, Jerry John Rawlings is reported to have prior to the Kumasi Special Delegates Congress of the NDC late last month told emissaries dispatched to formerly invite him to the event to endorse the candidature of President Mahama as the party's flag bearer for the December polls told them to do all they can to re-instate Mr. Kofi Adams to his former position as deputy general secretary of the party.

Our source disclosed that this sentiment of the former air force pilot found expression in his prepared speech delivered at the Kumasi conference when he stated:

“Fellow countrymen and women, the uncivilized tendency of poking thoughtlessly people who have sacrificed for both party and country, and later attempting to embrace them for political expediency, must stop. Let us begin to show civility towards each other, in hope that it is not too late. How much integrity can be restored.”

Our source said the founder is not only battling with his conscience, but also finding it difficult to reconcile with the party whiles his trusted lieutenant, Kofi Adams, who stood by, and stridently defended him (Rawlings) in the 'trying' moments, is still left in the 'cooler', hence his plea and insistence.

But a source close to the party told the Al-Hajj that, much as the NDC may want to consider the party founders' request, it was made abundantly clear to him that so long as it is his aide, Mr. Kofi Adams who took the party to court, the party is constrained into taking any such decision until either the case is determined or withdrawn.

Mr. Kofi Adams was early this year suspended by the NDC after a leaked tape with a voice purported to be his in conversation with Nana Akufo-Addo's nephew and NPP's Strategist, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko of the Danquah Institute saying, he will do everything humanly possible to prevent the then President Mills and the NDC from securing the mandate of Ghanaians for a second term.

He has since denied the allegation but the party, following a crunch meeting by the National Executive Committee (NEC), decided to suspend him.

According to the General Secretary, Mr. Asiedu Nketia “if the investigations exonerate him (Mr. Adams), the suspension will be withdrawn, but if it goes against him, we will apply the recommended sanction,” he said.