Konadu Scares Mills

-As he bribes and intimidates delegates

Scared by the fact that a fair contest could torpedo his second term presidential bid, President John Evans Atta Mills and his campaign team are said to have resorted to massive bribery and intimidation of delegates ahead of the July congress of the ruling National Democratic Congress.

Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo and a leading member of the Konadu camp, Michael Teye Nyaunu, yesterday said on a number of local radio stations that the intimidation was so insidious that her candidate was having problem getting delegates to endorse her nomination, adding that he was even personally threatened by the modus operandi of President Mills and his team.

He, however, added that in spite of the intimidations and naked bribery responses from the delegates to Mrs Rawlings’ candidature had so far been favourable.

Mr Teye Nyaunu alleged that he had conclusive evidence that an amount of GH¢ 4,000 and a motorbike were being given to each delegate to buy their support for President Mills.

The allegations come just a couple of days after Herbert Mensah, a close buddy of NDC founder, former President Rawlings, had alleged he and Mr Rawlings had listened to a security tape on which the Mills campaign team has earmarked a whopping GHS90,000 for the presidential primary.

According to him, the bribery of delegates is prevalent in the Eastern and Volta Regions, adding that they were yet to receive reports from the other regions.

“I can tell you that some people were called in Volta Region and each was given GH¢ 4,000 and a new motor bike. This happened to about seven people in the Eastern Region and ten people in the Volta Region. Our team would be meeting to discuss this and an official complaint would be made,” the MP alleged on Joy FM.

Mr Teye Nyaunu claimed taht the continued intimidation of the supporters of Nana Konadu would fail because the ex-first lady had proven her bravery and her capacity to organize and lead the party.

He announced plans by the Konadu campaign team to officially notify the elections committee of the NDC about the shameless bribery and intimidation going on.

Mr Teye Nyaunu said the delegates who were being bribed included Regional Organizers of the 31st December Women’s Movement who have broken ranks with the movement's founder and announced their support for President Mills.

He alleged that leaders of the Movement in three regions, Western, Central and the Brong Ahafo Regions, had been compromised and coerced into declaring support for President Mills.

To the outspoken MP, it therefore did not come to him as a surprise when the three Regional branches of the movement decided to break ranks with Mrs Rawlings.

“These people I know are being intimidated and are being made to come out to say that it is not time for Madam. They said they are being promised a lot of things, they have been asked to say all these things,” he noted.

In the view of the leadership of the Brong Ahafo, Central and Western Regional branches of the Movement, the former first lady, who is also the President the Movement, must not challenge President Mills for the presidential slot of the ruling NDC.

Ekua Sam, Central Regional Organizer for the movement said in her opinion, it is not right for Mrs Konadu to challenge President Mills for the presidential slot of the party.

“I am not in support because when Jerry [Rawlings] was in power I gave him my utmost support till he completed his tenure in office. I support NDC as a party and if we have put somebody there as our leader I don’t see why we should abandon him halfway and go and support another person. If that is done his work would be very difficult for him. He would not have the concentration to do his work effectively till the end of his term in office. So I feel I have to support him that is why I have given him my support,” she said yesterday.