The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC?s) National Congress scheduled for September this year may see no competition as the party has decided to maintain its candidates for the 2004 general elections.
This latest twist of events has come about as a result of the party?s inability to generate funds for the marketing of a new flag-bearer of the party for 2008 elections. A credible source briefing the Free Press indicated that the party would still go to congress as stipulated by the party?s constitution, but delegates would have to vote for Prof. Mills as he has been tested and proven his popularity for the third time running. The source likened this decision by the NDC to that of the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) which maintained then candidate Kufuor in 1996 and 2000 general elections which resulted in the party?s victory in 2000. This was because Kufuor was the next most popular personality after ex-president Rawlings, who had completed his term of office. This he noted was worth emulating because now President Kufuor would also be completing his second term of office and the next popular person would be Prof. Mills since he has contested two consecutive elections, that was 2000 and 2004.
The decision, the free press has learnt has sent some shivers to prospective candidates, but the party still stands by its decision to enable it win power from the NPP come 2008. Even though the aspirants are bitter, the party?s final decision is that it has no funds to market a new candidate whilst an asset is at the doorstep.
