Former First Lady To Run In 2004 ?

As Ghana’s main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) continues with its re-organization, and plans towards the 2004 elections, there have been growing calls for former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings to contest a parliamentary seat in next year’s presidential/parliamentary elections.

A spokesperson for the group spearheading the call on the former first lady told the paper that even though the decision to contact Mrs. Rawlings to contest the elections has been on the cards for over a year now they would not be deterred by reports in the private media that the decision is aimed at creating a Rawlings Dynasty.

“ The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their collaborators in the private press think they are smart. They have been trying to create the impression that by asking the Mrs. Rawlings to contest for a parliamentary seat, we are trying to create a Rawlings dynasty. This will not, I repeat, not deter us. We believe that with her experience in grassroots mobilisation and general political experience, she will be an asset not only to the NDC but Ghanaian political culture” he said.

Political analysts believe that ex-president Jerry Rawlings would be reluctant to allow her wife to dabble in Ghanaian politics. A close associate of Mrs. Rawlings however told remarked that though she was not aware of any approaches “if she gives me the opportunity to take a decision on her behalf, I would advise her to give it a good try. It will let the world know the excellent stuff she is made of. She is human and may have some failings but if you get to know her well, she is a wonderful person” she added.

Meanwhile the NDC is scheduled to have primaries in constituencies they lost in the 2000 elections between June and July this year to select their candidates. Should the former first lady decide to contest next year’s parliamentary elections, she would have to choose a constituency in either Greater Accra or Ashanti Region.

Section 94 of the 1992 constitution is on the qualifications and eligibility to become a Member of Parliament.

Section 94 (1) states: “subject to the provisions of this article, a person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament unless

(a) he is a citizen of Ghana has attained the age of twenty-one years and is a registered voter;

(b) he is resident in the constituency for which he stands as a candidate for election to parliament or has resided there for a total period of not less than five years out of the ten years immediately preceding the elections for which he stands, or he hails from that constituency and has paid his taxes or made arrangements satisfactory to the appropriate authority for the payment of his taxes.