Another reform ?break away? in the pipeline?

The Rawlings-dominated National Democratic Congress (NDC), the largest opposition in the country could suffer a "potential terminal split" in its membership should the current state of affairs persist till the end of the year.

"Crusading Guide" investigations have unearthed intentions by some elements associated with the marginalized pro-Obed Asamoah cum Kwesi Botchwey group in the NDC to break away and form a new party if ex-President Rawlings persist in exercising his domineering, divisive hold on the party.

In his recent statement on the unhealthy state of affairs in the party, Dr Obed Asamoah, Chairman of the NDC, partly traced the recent electoral defeats suffered by the NDC party to problems emanating primarily from indiscipline and lack of funds. However, independent political analysts see the party's woes as rather being largely caused by the disunity in the party induced by the founder of the party's overbearing, negative, eccentric influence in the party.

Quipped one highly placed party source who pleaded anonymity: "Whoever says the power struggle between Rawlings and Obed Asamoah is not having its debilitating toll on the NDC is simply behaving like a proverbial ostrich."

According to her, this struggle has broken the unity of the party, leading to indiscipline, apathy, the inability to generate necessary fund for the party to be effective and many others drawbacks.

The source said the Obed-Botchwey group is in a principle against the Rawlings style of running a party which for now lacks the incumbency it benefited from, courtesy its antecedent ? the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). She said this fact is underscored by Obed?s call for the role of Rawlings to be re-defined.

According to her, the overbearing, erratic and ultra-populist tendencies of Rawlings and his fanatical following have provoked the ?reformist group? to the extent that should the ex-President not recede to the background and permit/allow the party to function as a democratic institution, the ?reformist group? will not hesitate to form a party outside the NDC to contest the 2004 elections.

?I am an old politician, I have been at this game for ages and can easily form my party to prove a point ? irrespective of my performance at the elections?, a reform-minded NDC top notch told our roving scouts.