Rawlings was 2016 de facto campaign manager of NPP - Yamoah Ponkoh

Former President and National Democratic Congress (NDC) founder, Jerry John Rawlings became de facto campaign manager for the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2016, according to former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ejisu-Juaben.

“In camera, Rawlings was the campaign manager for NPP. …he gave them the corruption massage to use against John Mahama”, Afrifa Yamoah Ponko alleged.

According to him, the actions and inactions of the founder prior to the 2016 polls indicated he was in bed with NPP and cannot be trusted by the NDC leadership.

“Things have changed on the side of our founder whom we see as an icon of our democracy”, the one time Ashanti Regional Manager of National Health Insurance Authority stated on Kumasi-based Abusua FM.

“Contrary to what people were saying NDC is Rawlings and Rawlings is NDC, it has changed to become Rawlings is NPP and NPP is Rawlings now”, he claimed on the show.

“Though it is normal for changes to come but the founder change has brought negative consequences on the party”, Hon. Afrifa Yamoah Ponko told the host, Kwame Adinkra.

This comes at the time two failed parliamentary candidates of the party; Evans Amankwa and Abigail Elorm Mensah have petitioned NDC leadership for Mr. Jerry John Rawlings to be striped of the founder title.

According to the petitioners, Mr. Rawlings and onetime Vice presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Martin Amidu have misconducted themselves by speaking against alleged corruption in the party publicly.

However, commenting on the development, Mr. Afrifa Yamoah Ponko took a swipe at the founder blaming him for the hefty loss of the party in the last general elections.