Jerry John Rawllings with the Volta Regional NPP Executives
Former President Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC), appears pessimistic about the electoral chances of the party as the December 7 general election approaches.
He apparently doubts the NDC’s ability to win the crucial election, which could re-elect President Mahama. He has admonished the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to cause other parties to feel insecure if it is able to win contest.
Ex-President Rawlings gave the admonition when Volta Regional Executives of the NPP, led by John Peter Amewu, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra yesterday.
The NPP executives had visited the NDC founder to express their concerns about Togolese taking part in Ghana’s elections as being trumpeted by the NDC in the region.
Jerry Rawlings said whichever party wins the December 7 polls must ensure that the losing parties and their supporters do not feel intimidated.
“Most parties are working towards winning and I wish all of you the best, but one serious appeal…is that irrespective of whoever emerges as the winner, I hope the losing parties and their supporters will have no reason to feel insecure.
“It’s important that we take the necessary steps to give the necessary assurance to all citizens …” he added.
As far as the December 7 polls is concerned, Mr Rawlings urged the various parties to “do everything and anything that is possible to maintain the spirit of goodwill”, because “the time is a little too short”.
The NPP Regional Chairman had to Ex-President Rawlings that the party was concerned that some Togolese have, through illegal means, found their way into Ghana’s register of voters so they could vote for a particular party.
Mr. Amewu said: “The NPP, as law-abiding citizens, do not intend to stop genuine Ghanaians who reside in Togo coming to Ghana to exercise their democratic right to vote. Instead we are trying to build collaboration between the leaders of the border towns and educate them in understanding the criminal implications and trivialities of the actions of those who are not entitled to vote trying to do so.”
NPP has repeatedly claimed Ghana’s electoral roll has more foreign nationals registered as voters especially from neighbouring Togo.
In October, the Volta Regional NPP launched ‘Operation Eagle Eye’ a campaign to prevent non-nationals from taking part in Ghana’s election.
This came after General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) stormed Togo to persuade citizens who are on the Voter’s register to show up on December 7.
Mr Amewu registered his disappointment with the development, adding it does not augur well for the democratic credentials of the country.
He claimed the NDC enticed Togolese nationals with freebies such as money, T-shirt, Confidor fertilizer among other incentives to get onto the Voter’s register.
Although he believes it was going to be difficult to de-motivate the Togolese from turning up on Election Day, he said there could be progress if eminent personalities like Mr Rawlings adds his voice to the issue.
Mr. Rawlings assured the delegation that he would pass on the concern to the relevant institutions for the necessary action.
JJ’s Absence
The absence of the former President on the NDC campaign trail in recent times has been so conspicuous that it is becoming the talk of town.
Apart from Cape Coast where the NDC launched its national campaign in August, the former President has not been seen at any major campaign event organized by the governing party including its manifesto launch in Sunyani in late September.
He refused to endorse John Mahama when he attended the NDC Cape Coast campaign launch asking them to wait till after the election before he booms.
The NDC was able to wrestle power from the then New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2008 largely due to the untiring effort of Mr Rawlings.
Too Old
Early last month, NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia said that the former President was too old to campaign for the NDC as the party seeks re-election of President John Mahama.
He admitted the NDC is going into the 2016 campaign without President Rawlings who founded the NDC but claimed that the ex-military leader was in the ‘background’ doing some work.
By William Yaw Owusu