Will SADAM Eat GARI ...At The Sunyani Coronation

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday July 9, 2011.
The past eight weeks have been a battle of acronyms as the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) gears up for its national delegates’ congress to select their flagbearer for 2012 general elections.

Some of the groups that have sprouted all of a sudden to offer support for the two NDC heavyweights vying for the sole ticket have acronyms like Sons and Daughters of Atta Mills (SADAM) and Get Agyeman Rawlings In (GARI).

The candidates are two NDC heavyweights: President John Evan Atta Mills, a Professor of Law and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) and wife of Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, NDC founder.

Apart GARI, Nana Konadu has other ultra groups with acronyms like Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR), the main group that spearheaded her campaign, Organized Ladies of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (OLONKAR), Nana Konadu Network (NAKONET) while President Mills can boast of groups with acronyms like Get Atta Mille Endorsed/Elected (GAME) and Friends and Family of Atta Mills (FAFAM), Friends of Atta Mills (FOAM) apart from SADAM. Others are Supporters of Egya Atta (SEA), , Enemies of Massa Atta (ENEMA), Atta Mills Association of Slow Starters (AMASS) and Atta Mills Society of Sycophants and Cowards (AMSSAC).

Take it or leave it, the delegates’ congress in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital is predicted to be a nerve-wracking one.

Some observers have accused the Rawlingses of power drunkenness and greed from wanting more after 0ver 22 years in political power, but Mrs. Rawlings’ campaign team maintains that President Mills has lost touch with the people due to incompetence, greed and corruption in his government and insist the destiny and future of the country and the NDC as a party cannot be entrusted in the hands of the President anymore because he is a bad ‘Youtong Bus’ driver.

Supporters of the President are playing down on the negative impact that Konadu’s candidature will have on the NDC by insisting that her candidature has redefined politics in Ghana since it was the first time in the county’s history that an incumbent President is being contested from within and for that matter female for the flagbearership of the party.

However, opponents of the President say the former first lady’s contest is an indication of “no confidence’ vote in President Mills.

While President Mills maintains he is on course to deliver his “Better Ghana” agenda due to the formidable policies put in place since his assumption of office, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings says she is in the contest to restore hope and dignity for ordinary Ghanaians and to rejuvenate the ideals of probity, accountability, freedom and justice on which the NDC was formed. She said Mills does not inspire confidence.

Some observers forsee a grueling contest and have even predicted that the NDC will never be the same after the event but the party hierarchy is optimistic they will stay united no matter the outcome.

Koku Anyidoho, Communications Director at the Presidency has predicted that should Nana Konadu win the Sunyani contest, the NDC will go ahead to lose the 2012 general elections and be confined in opposition for maybe 100 years.

Allegations of intimidation and the use of huge sums of money to induce delegates have been flying around for sometime and FONKAR has not relented in their bid to make these issues public.

Herbert Mensah, the man who calls himself a friend of the Rawlingses dropped a bombshell in May 2011, when he claimed that he and Former President Rawlings who doubles as founder of the NDC are in possession of a tape recording that indicated that President Mills intended to use GH¢90million for his re-election campaign.

The President later vehemently denied the allegation and ordered the National Security to investigate Herbert Mensah’s claim.

According to FONKAR, President Mills’ administration could be likened to a brand new Yutong Bus in the hands of an inexperienced driver. The driver must be changed now to avoid a catastrophic accident that is looming ahead (NDC loosing 2012).

Critics from the President’s own party are now convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that he is a liability and could consequently pose a threat to the electoral fortunes of the party in 2012; hence, he must be changed.

Despite calls for crucifixion of the President Mills by FONKAR and their patrons, GAME has taken things cool and is promising a resounding victory against the Rawlingses in Sunyani.

They say the numerous achievements of the President within a short period in office are ample testimonies why the delegates will re-elect John Evan Atta Mills for a second term.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
Friday June 4, 2010 - Movement for Konadu 2012 displays banners at the annual June 4 rally held in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital. The group which came from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region later apologised to the Rawlingses for the ‘embarrassment’ caused at the rally but urged her to consider running for the Presidency.

Sunday October 24, 2010 – Konadu posters popped up like mushrooms on several walls and poles in major towns and cities in all the ten regions of the country. An agitated group calling itself ‘Foot Soldiers of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) claimed responsibility for the Nana Konadu campaign posters. Konadu was still silent on her ambition.

Tuesday January 11, 2011 - another Konadu poster appears in major cities and towns. This time around with messages of New Year wishes.

Thursday April 14, 2011 – Nana Konadu resigns as First Vice Chairman of the NDC giving impetus to speculations that she will be contesting President Mills.

Konadu declares: ‘I will contest’ at the International Conference Center in Accra when she attended the FAMOUS FIVE concert on Good Friday.

Tuesday 3 May 2011 – Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings picks up nomination forms for the presidential primaries.

Wednesday May 4, 2011 – Konadu launches her campaign at the Accra International Conference Center. It was at this venue that Dr. David Sunu, a staunch ally of Konadu said “we have and impotent party leader’ in reference to President Mills.

Thursday May 5, 2011 – President John Evans Atta Mills also picks his nomination forms amid fanfare. The campaign team ‘seizes’ state-owned broadcaster Ghana Television (GTV) for about eight (8) hours for the coverage of the President’s picking of his nomination for and launching of his re-election campaign team.

Wednesday June 8, 2011 – Konadu attends vetting at NDC Headquarters. Hostile placards greet her on her arrival. Her supporters finger GAME and some NDC national executives for the chaos.

Thursday June 9, 2011 – President Mills attends vetting. He calls for a clean contest.

Saturday June 9, 2011 – The D day at Sunyani Coronation Park.