�And John Mahama Wept

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday wept over cracks that have developed in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over petty differences. Speaking at the party�s eight National Delegates Congress, he said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was at the crossroads and called for the closing of ranks within to address its challenges and those of the Nation. Speaking in a reflective tone at the NDC�s Eighth National Delegates Congress in Tamale, he called for sober reflections to eliminate the discordance and the polarization that had characterize the ruling Party in recent times. �Our survival depends on the manner in which our differences are handled,� Vice President Mahama said, and stressed the need for unity, cohesion, hard work and resilience to move the Party and the nation forward in the right direction. Attributing the victory of NDC in election 2008 to direct Divine intervention, the Vice President urged Party members not to do anything that would ruin its fortunes. He said every effort was made to rob the NDC its electoral victory, but the intervention of God saved the situation and that, the current disunity within the Party should stop. Vice President Mahama said, the Party seemed to have been set in a self destruct mode � bickering and open hostility towards one another � which he blamed on a break in communication and urged members of the Party to forget the past and forge ahead as a united Party. He paid tribute to members, who lost their lives or suffered incapacitation in the cause of the Party, and urged the delegates to stand firm and come out of the congress more united than ever to ensure a straight victory in 2012. The Vice President blamed the previous NPP administration for failing to give ear to a national security advice in 2008 of impending economic crisis in July of that year � that the rate of inflation was accelerating, which was bound to lead to increase in interest rates, depreciation of the cedi and inability to pay salaries. �That caution was prophetic but was not heeded.� The Eurobond money was taken, which meant that, money was taken from the private sector investment capital. According to the Vice President, Vodafone was sold to raise some money to �cool the overheating�. He said, it became very clear that, whoever would win Election 2008 was going to be compelled to take radical measures to bring the economy back on track. Vice President Mahama said, those measures included the biting of the bullet and self-discipline. Former President Jerry John Rawlings said, many Ghanaians were under, he excruciating pain and urged the Government to apply the right analgesic to reduce their suffering. He said, he would continue to admonish the government until it look the appropriate action because �we are dealing with the fate the nation� and urged the entire delegates to throw their weight behind President John Evans Atta Mills.