Cracks In NDC

Cracks have started appearing in the National Democratic Congress over whether Prof J. E. Atta Mills would be the right presidential candidate for the party in Election 2008 and the Abibiman branch of the party in the Weija Constituency has strongly protested at that development.

At its meeting on 25th June, 2005, the Abibiman branch of the NDC, which took cognisance of the positions of the two party branches, Tema and Kumasi, stated that whereas the branch admits that all positions in NDC are open to all, the timing for making such positions known is a source of worry to the Abibiman branch.

A letter issued by the Ablekuma ward (under) Weija Constituency (Ga West) and signed by Victor Ahiahu, the Chairman; Alhaji Muhammad Agbeve, 1st Deputy Chairman; Shahadatu Hussein, Secretary and G.A. Donkor, 1st Deputy Secretary of the Weija branch of the Abibiman branch, raised its concern in a 10-point resolution, stating that it was premature to make such positions known, knowing that the party's constitution is unambiguous when it come to the electoral timetable for the party.

The branch maintained, the likelihood of its opponents using such methods to sow discord and division could not be discounted, and requested therefore that the background of the two branches be verified to ascertain their allegiance. According to the branch iit was factually inaccurate to suggest that the founder of the party has ever imposed anybody on the party and that Prof Mills' previous eligibility to contest on the ticket of the party was sanctioned by the congress.

According to the party branch, the NDC is in opposition and that resources available to a party in opposition are limited, against the backdrop that huge investment had gone into printing of paraphernalia and other campaign materials bearing the effigy of Prof Mills. The fact that Prof Mills has made an impact in the political arena is an added advantage to the party they stated, pointing out that in the past two elections, 2000 and 2004, two main names, President Kufuor and Prof. Mills were dominant and with President Kufuor out of the scene in 2008, the focal point is on Prof Mills.

It further added that though the party has many talented and capable presidential materials the congress in its consideration for Presidential Candidature may look for such a caliber as can measure up to Prof Mills.