Kwesi Botchwey begs Rawlings for forgiveness

That former president Rawlings is still the Overlord of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is beginning to sink home.

Former finance minister, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey who is seeking the mandate of the NDC to lead it into the next election literally confirmed this to NDC faithfuls at Bogoso in the Western Region last week, when he met party supporters from eight constituencies in the region.

Dr. Botchwey is reported by the Independent, a private newspaper to have told the NDC supporters from Bibiani, Wassa Amenfi West, Wassa Amenfi Central, Prestea Huni Valley, Tarkwa Nsuaem Aowin Suaman and Juabeso that, “As a human being, I am not perfect and if I have inadvertently offended him (Rawlings) he should forgive me.

Continuing, Dr. Botchwey told the NDC supporters that, “I have worked with him (Rawlings) and I know the leadership qualities he possesses and I know he will continue to help the party to build a stable and democratic Ghana.

He further told the meeting “I shall go and shake hands with him to confirm this”. Dr. Botchwey said it is difficult tot believe that though the NDC was in power for almost twenty years, the party’s structures were very weak. He told the meeting that his decision to enter the presidential race does not mean he is out to create factions in the party but it is rather to give the grassroots supporters of the party a chance to make a choice, adding, “democracy depends on competition and that is the way to nourish our democracy”.

Dr. Botchwey expressed the need to give the NDC a new vision, direction and leadership, which can lead it to win the next elections.

Relations between the former president and Dr. Botchwey have been said to be at the nadir since 1996, when Botchwey, then finance minister, quit government to take up a position at Harvard and subsequently Columbia University.

An initial attempt by the “Kwesi Botchwey for President” team, to get the aspirant flagbearer to meet his former boss, could not succeed as the later was then in Northern Ghana to attend the funeral of former Chairman of the Council of State, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia.

Rawlings’ Special Assistant, Victor Smith is reported to have said then that Rawlings was not aware of any meetings with Kwesi Botchwey.

Some members of the recently inaugurated NDC Council of Elders of which Rawlings is chairman, are expected to lead Dr. Botchwey to the much-anticipated meeting.