Mills Is Hot

A preference swing has affected the selection of a running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, who is now faced with the overbearing choice of the Rawlingses.The former first couple is now pushing for a female lawyer, Betty Mould-Iddrisu. The Professor, in the face of the swing, has been placed in a more tedious quandary than in the previous equation where he had Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni and Hon. John Mahama to consider for the position.

John, who was tipped for the position, has suddenly lost out as Betty’s fire appears to have caught on with NDC power brokers. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, wife of NDC founder was even heard on a radio programme last Friday in Accra throwing her weight behind the female lawyer. Mrs Rawlings said John has not been consistent and therefore the party has to move on.

Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, wife of NDC patriarch, Mahama Iddrisu who left for her United Kingdom base on Sunday night, was in the country to subtly work on her political project including appearing before a panel of Functional Executive Committee of the party. Even though mum is still the word for the Prof, it is becoming clear that when finally an announcement is made, it would be about Lawyer Betty partnering him. The shift in the preference for Lawyer Betty Mould-Iddrisu received a boost yesterday when NDC women marched to Mills’ Kuku Hill campaign office to specifically ask that Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu’s wife be considered as the flag-bearer’s running mate.

Their request comes at the heels of similar pressures brought to bear upon the National Chief Imam by lobbyist groups from both the NDC and NPP to lend his support for the choice of female running mates in their political groupings. The march to the Mills Kuku Hill Campaign Office, an aspect of the game-plan to pave the way for Lawyer Betty, is thought to have been at the instance of some influential power brokers in the party.

The party’s Greater Accra First Deputy Women’s Organiser, Ms. Priscilla Mercy Nketia who led the women to present their demand, noted that over the years, women have been relegated to backburner status and denied top leadership positions. “We the women are demanding that Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu be given the chance,” she said. Their demand, she explained, is also borne out of the fact that the lady is qualified for the highest office of the land. Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu, the demonstrators went on, can win for the NDC, floating votes which the party needs to alter the political equation when the country goes to the polls on December 7, 2008.

A Women’s Organizer for the East Ayawaso constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Madam Beatrice Newman Betty noted that their choice is better than the others whose names have come up for consideration, adding that the lawyer has the potential of winning the hearts of many women across the country. The women who thronged the Kuku Hill office of Prof Mills went to the location in three buses with others hitting the place on their own to put forth their demand. Prof Mills assuaged the worry of the women when he assured them that should he win the polls, 40 percent of his cabinet would be made up of women. Of the many personalities whose names have been mentioned for consideration, he reminded his party faithful that “only one person would be chosen”.

The party, he however stated, needs a partner who can influence the victory of the NDC. “We need victory so there is the need to choose the one that can help achieve it”. Prof Mills told the women that he has worked with women for so long that he appreciates their capabilities and would want to associate with them when he wins power. “Yes, some women are equally competent. This I have known for long. That is why I would reserve 40 percent of my cabinet for women,” he told his women guests at the Osu office.

The final choice, he said, would not mean that he bears any grudge against any of the others, emphasizing that “what is more important is to forge ahead in unity since there would be a role for all to play for Mother Ghana”. The heat and pressure which characterized the choice witnessed a lull especially when the learned Prof had to deal with the issue of his health which received massive media treatment.Matters got to a brief but momentous head when someone posted his obituary on the worldwide web. The story which took centre stage on the media terrain appeared to have drowned the running mate conundrum.

Now the subject has reared its head again but this time around, it appears a solution is not too far away since the former president and his wife alongside women in the party have pinpointed Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, who incidentally enjoys substantial support from FEC members. At a time when conjectures became prominent as regards the choice of a partner, observers concluded that the NDC is watching how their rivals, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would handle the issue. The appearance of Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu in the equation and her endorsement by former President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife has added to Prof Mills’ problems.

Hon John Mahama’s name stood tall among the list of possible personalities at a time when the affable Bole/Bamboi MP was not amused about the swinging of the pendulum towards his direction.DAILY GUIDE reliably gathered that the MP who is also a member of the prestigious African Parliament in South Africa, argued rather cogently that if his party maintains its position that the 2004 election was rigged by the NPP why should that (NDC) winning partnership be altered. He also expressed his abhorrence for the incessant change of running mates, while the flagbearer is maintained, which he considered not good for the political fortunes of a party.

Through high ranking emissaries said to have been sent to him by the flagbearer, Hon John Mahama capitulated to the insistence that he consider the request. The running mate issue was played out once more recently when at a forum of regional chairmen of the NDC in the Brong Ahafo Region the subject was put to vote.Hon John Mahama won the hearts of most of the chairpersons as he polled 7. At his heels was Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu who had 2 with Mr. Mohammed Mumuni taking a paltry 1. Further checks by Daily Guide however revealed that the order was rather John Mahama 2, Betty Mould-Iddrisu 4 with Mohammed Mumuni maintaining his lone vote. There were 3 abstentions and these persons were said to be inclined towards Betty.

Now that the signals point at a possible Mills-Betty ticket, Hon. John Mahama might have to subtly roll down his sleeves for after all he did not personally throw his hat into the ring. The female lawyer, before her current appointment as the Legal Director of the Commonwealth, was Copyrights Administrator of the Copyrights Society of Ghana. Her husband, Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, the man from Wa, holds an important position among members of his ethnic group.

He was a one-time Defence Minister in the erstwhile NDC administration and vied for the presidential candidature for the party in the last congress. Although he lost out to Prof J.E.A. Mills, his support for his better half, which is not in doubt, would go a long way to shore up her fortunes.