Audio Attachment:Listen to both Prez Mills and Nana Konadu prior to the voting |
The governing National Democratic Congress is electing its presidential candidate for the 2012 presidential elections at Sunyani and after months of hints, declarations, mini rallies and pomp, the contest has come down to a straight fight between�
supporters of the Rawlingses- epitomised by the group Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR), who believe foot soldiers and other structures of the party have been neglected � and supporters of President Mills, represented by the group Get Atta Mills Endorsed(GAME) who argue that one does not change a winning horse in the middle of a race.
As one political analyst put it, �it is a battle for the soul for the NDC.�
� An expectant, jam-packed Sunyani Coronation Park awaits the start of the programme
� MC Elvis Afriyie Ankrah signals the beginning of the programme
� Christian prayer by Rev Lawson
� Former President Rawlings and wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings arrive and go round to greet delegates and other members of the NDC. Mrs Rawlings, a contestant in today�s important contest, is dressed in all white and waving an NDC scarf. Mr Rawlings is in a white African print top and a black pair of trousers.
� Muslim prayers by Brong Ahafo Chief Imam, Alhaji Kadir
� Vice President John Mahama, wearing red NDC branded T-Shirt and accompanied by wife Lordina Mahama, arrives to huge cheers and goes round to greet delegates
� MC Afriyie Ankrah acknowledges the presence of the party's Council of Elders, led by the man publicly acknowledged as Founder of the NDC, Former President Jerry John Rawlings, as well as other dignitaries
� President John Evans Atta Mills arrives to tumultuous cheers, the waving of white handkerchiefs and the NDC's adopted song of Double Double
� President Mills, dressed in white African wear and black trousers, is accompanied by First Lady Ernestina Naadu Mills to greet delegates around the Park. The President is flanked on his right by Hon E. T Mensah, MP for Ningo Prampram and Minister for Employment and Social Welfare and led by Kwadwo Nyamekye Maafo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister
� Jewel Ackah leads a lustrous rendition of NDC anthem in English and two Ghanaian languages
� NDC Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei delivers his welcome address.
� Today is neither for FONKAR nor for GAME. Today is for NDC, says Chairman of the NDC, Dr Kwabena Adjei.
� Mr Ken Dzirasa, head of the Ghana Refugee Board proposes a number of Committees to run the Congress. Among these is the Elections Committee. Members of the Committee are: Ken Dzirasa (Chairman), Huudu Yahaya, Haruna Iddrisu, Hanna Tetteh, Doe Adjaho, Inusah Fuseini, and Kofi Adams
� Seeks approval for Steering Committee chaired by General Mosquito - members include, Yaw Boateng Gyan, Haruna Iddrisu, Hajia Joyce Zanaiba Mahama, Barbara Serwaah Asamoah, Prof. Kwame, Joshua Akamba, Kwabena Acheampong, Kuntu Blankson, Collins Dauda, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Baba Jamal, Alex Segbefia, and Kofi Adams.
� Committee ratified.
� Electoral Committee chaired by Ken Dzirasa also ratified.
� Legal and Drafting Committee chaired by Larry Adjetey members include, David Annan, Inusah Fuseni and motion approved.
� The presence of the envoys of Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Algeria, China and India are acknowledged by MC Elvis Afriyie Ankrah
� NDC Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman Opoku Atuahene makes a masterful presentation of his region's tourism potentials and the need for the NDC to stay united and prosecute President Mills's Better Ghana Agenda.
� Deputy Director of Communication for the NPP, Sammy Awuku gives a solidarity speech on behalf of his party
� Right after his speech, MC Elvis Afriyie Ankrah jokingly pulls him close and offers him the opportunity to shake hands with the dignitaries on the podium including Mr Rawlings, Nana Konadu, John Mahama and President Mills.
� Bernard Mornah, General Secretary of the People�s National Convention (PNC) follows on the heels of Sammy Awuku to give a solidarity speech.
� Solidarity messages from the Convention People's Party, Democratic Freedom Party (Bede Zieden).
� NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah is next. He dismissed calls by the opposition NPP for the scrapping of the recently launched Heroes Fund and sought to find out on why the NPP "honour their polling station agents every year."
� Vice President John Mahama then addresses congress. Pays tribute to Alhaji Sumani Zakari, late chairman of NDC for Northern Region, late DF Annan, Mahama Adam and all those who passed. He dedicated the congress to two elder members - Dr Mary Grant and Harry Sawyer and asked that the Good Lord continues to bless them.
The Vice President stated that it is obvious the NDC has not been able to manage its differences well. Touted ex-president Rawlings as an inspirational leader pointing out that History of Ghana cannot be written without him.
"Those who submit to democratic processes must accept democratic results." Prez Mills will accept the outcome of the congress and work with whoever wins, he said.
Mr. Mahama reminded the NDC that the real test awaits us.
"A severely injured elephant is waiting and will do all it has to win back power...We should not be fighting ourselves."
He called for unity and said it is only with that unity that God will continue to bless the party.
� Former President Rawlings addresses congress and immediately apologises for being ushered in while prayers were being said.
He tells a story of one Osu Alata Mantse.
Perhaps BOOM ONE: There are two judges - the principled ones and those who serve the justice of their political masters, claims former President Rawlings.
He indicted the current administration of failing to investigate cases of corruption and pointed out that refuge has been given to those who committed crimes making them hold the upperhand with impunity.
"No-one has said people should be arrested and put in jail but there must be competent investigations....We are in power and they are still in control of judiciary," he said.
He also made some allegations.
"DCE�s are intimidating delegates by telling them their actions are being monitored by CCTV. Don�t allow the financial inducements undermine your convictions. Make a choice based on the facts and principles"- Mr Rawlings claims.
He charged the party not to allow financial inducement to undermine truth of their conscience because it can cost them the 2012 elections.
He thanked officers for per diems but it didn't come from him or the president.
� Next to speak at the congress is President Mills, whose introduction is met with great fanfare.
Responding to accusations by Mr Rawlings that the Mills administration has failed to arrest, prosecute and jail members of the erstwhile Kufuor administration, President Mills declared: �We have made and continue to make the great effort to ensure that there is justice in the country.
� A 30 minute break has just been announced by MC Elvis Afriyie Ankrah. Part Two of the day's programme begins in a short while including speeches to be delivered by the two aspirants and the election of a flgabearer.
� PART 2 of the historic delegates� congress begins with Hon Ken Dzirasa, Chairman of the NDC election committee, announcing that the team from the national Electoral Commission is led by Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, supported by Pauline Adobea Dadzawah, a Commissioner and 40 others.
Six polling booths have been set up will the following regional pairings:
Brong Ahafo and Central
Western and Volta
Greater Accra and Upper East
Eastern and Upper West
Council of Elders, national executives and foreign branches
� ADDRESS BY ASPIRANTS
President (now candidate) Mills is the first to address the delegates. For a man seeking re-election, he speaks for less than a minute but calls for NDC delegates to remember the challenges ahead, and vote based on their conscience and for the greater good of the party. He expressed confidence, however, that the battle was already won. Remarkably,
Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings takes her turn. She speaks in a mixture of English and Twi and reiterates her entry into the NDC flagbearer race which she explained was caused by party members crying out about the breakdown in party structures and has nothing to do with gender, but everything to do with commitment and dedication, she says. There are jeers probably of disapproval.
� Electoral Commission takes over to conduct elections. Distribution of ballot papers to all six polling stations completed.
� President Mills casts his vote and waves to the crowd.
� Vice-president John Mahama casts his vote as well but Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings cannot vote. She lost the right to exercise her franchise when she resigned as Vice Chairperson of the NDC on April 13, 2011.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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