Mills’ death no good omen for NDC – Twum Boafo

The death of ex-president John Evans Atta Mills was a blow to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the party has never rejoiced or used that incident to score political points or obtain sympathy votes, Kwadwo Twum Boafo, a member of the communication team of the party, has refuted.

“We score political points based on our achievements, not because we want somebody to die. What did we get out of the death of Prof Mills? President Mahama had a solid team. President Mills and President Mahama had a track record that Ghanaians appreciated; that was why President Mahama was elected [for another four years] when President Mills died,” he told Emefa Apawu on Class FM’s 505 news programme on Thursday September 15.

He was reacting to comments by the flag bearer of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, who accused some members of the NDC of rejoicing over the death of ex-President Mills.

For Dr Nduom, the NDC cannot pretend to be sad over an issue they claim was the reason why they won the elections in 2012. Some pundits believe President John Mahama’s victory that year was as a result of sympathy votes the party gleaned from Prof Mills’ death.

Dr Nduom at a programme stated: “Mills was our kinsman and he became the president. Some people criticised and attacked him until he died. And some of the NDC people themselves thanked God that Mills died. Is that not strange? And after his death, they came back here to tell us to replace him with another person from the Central Region.

"After all that, they go about provoking us that if Mills had not died, the NDC would not be in government today. ... It appears as though they deliberately pushed him to the seat so they can commit the wrongs behind him."

However, the Executive Secretary of the Free Zones Board does not think the passing of the late professor played any role in the NDC’s election victory in the previous presidential polls.

“How can the death of Prof Mills be a good omen for anything or for anybody? Certain comments do not help. Maybe the day he (Dr Nduom) drops dead, beauty queens can take over his campaign and it will be a good omen for the PPP,” he responded.

For him, such a comment “does not help our political discourse”. He said “ridiculing of ex-President Mills, who was a father, mentor, and statesman in that manner is not the best”.