Botchwey, Tsikata and PV must return - Obed

Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, a Leading member of National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday called for a merger with other minority parties to work closely to recapture political power. "Politics is a game of numbers and anyone who does not appreciate that does not understand the implications of party politics."

Dr Asamoah, who is aspiring to become the chairman of the NDC, was speaking at a news conference to denounce the recent spate of verbal attacks on his personality by people, who were against his candidature for the chairmanship.

He said; "it is a pity that certain persons, who are anxious to chase me out of the party are adding more to their list of persons they cannot do business with. Can you imagine what will happen to the party if we all leave the party?"

Dr Asamoah, who was a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said that it was important that the party worked towards bringing back some personalities, who had left for one reason or the other.

"It is essential to create conditions for the return and active participation in party affairs of personalities like Captain Kojo Tsikata, Mr P. V. Obeng and Dr Kwesi Botchwey. Even if feasible, we should ensure the return into the fold, members of the Reform Party."

Dr Asamoah disagreed that he has dictatorial tendencies and was ambitious to become the flag bearer of the party and that as chairman he would prevent Professor John Atta Mills from becoming the flag-bearer of the party.

"This is politically and legally impossible not to mention the fact that it is inconsistent with my fight for the right of any member of the party to vie for any post of his choice. This is obviously a mere propaganda designed to eliminate support from pro-Mills supporters for me."

He said because of his intention to contest, he had suddenly been turned into a criminal being accused of all sorts of crimes, adding " even if all the crimes I am accused of were true, it is not for one person or a cabal to disqualify me from holding office. Democratic culture requires that this be left to the National Delegates' Congress to determine."

On election of a flag-bearer, Dr Asamoah said there was no need to rush it, adding, " except for those who lacked political savvy, the flag bearer is unattractive if the party is not sufficiently re-organised to ensure success at the polls.

He said his fight for the chairmanship was to help create a fighting machine capable of challenging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2004 race. The Former Minister of Justice said; " Don't let us be distracted by a guessing game as to what I want to do in future. I cannot tell you now what my future will be."

He warned that determining a flag bearer now for the party would set off an early presidential campaign, which would require a great amount of finance that was unavailable, and it would also prejudice the requirement of putting up a broad front to challenge the NPP.

He said he did not believe in the Swedru declaration type of democracy but in the elective principle and expressed his commitment to the party, saying he would not leave the party just because he was not voted to the office of chairman.

"I have remained in the party, in spite of attacks, vicious smear campaigns and even threats of assassination. I could long have taken the line of least resistance and abandoned my membership of the party to avoid the mudslinging I have been subjected to, but I didn't." The Police in March detained two NDC activists in Kumasi for plotting to assassinate Dr Asamoah. They were later released.