We'll Use Rawlings ? John Mahama

As the country inches towards the forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the National Democratic Congress, NDC, has dropped hints that it is working out a special arrangement by which the former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, can be use to turn the scales in its favour.

The hint was dropped by the party?s Director of Communications, Hon. John Mahama, who is also the MP for Bole/Bamboi constituency in the Northern Region, when he spoke to the BBC Africa Service?s Udoka Mimo, during his recent visit to London.

?Rawlings is popular in the rural areas and we are going to use him?, stressed the NDC?s Communications Director. When asked for a hint as to how the former President was going to be use, he replied, that is a secret. Rawlings he claimed is a charismatic person has certain advantages for the NDC?s cause, explaining, however, that it all depends on the role to which he is assigned. A section of the middle class in Ghana whom Rawlings helped to build, he noted, is however uncomfortable with this arrangement.

On the 24 hours consultation with the former head of state by Prof. Atta Mills, the flagbearer of the NDC, the Hon. MP, explained that it was reported out of context by the media, and that Prof. Mills did not mean to imply that the would like at the doorstep of the former head of state.

For now, he said he party would want the nation?s media to focus on Atta Mills, instead of Rawlings, he requested. He observed that the former president ruled in the 80s during which time, tough measures had to be use, but now the party has a new leader in the person of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, which demands a different strategy.

The role of Rawlings in the campaign structure of NDC has been a subject of discussion, for sometime now. While some feel the party needs him to add some vibe and colour to the campaigns of the party, others would want Mills to be on his own, with no interference, whatsoever, from the former president.

The latter school of thought has often argued that the role of Rawlings would rather be counter-productive in such circumstances. With actual campaign activities not yet in full swing, the secret of how Rawlings? charismatic advantage would be tapped, remains on the chest of Hon. John Mahama and the Communications Department of the party.