JJ Will Quit , If.... - Aides

EX-PRESIDENT Jerry John Rawlings, the founder and leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will quit the party and damn the consequences if delegates ignore his preferences to elect his adversary, Dr. Obed Asamoah.

This was said at a meeting of the party's regional executives, MPs and other officials in the Eastern Region at Koforidua yesterday.

The man who delivered the message was no less a person than the regional chairman, Mr. Ohene Kena.

He told the stunned meeting that if Asamoah wins they should forget about having the 'old man' in their fold.

Sources who attended the meeting said for whatever purpose it was disclosed the news did not move the meeting to take any dramatic decision that would jeopardise the chances of Dr. Asamoah.

Rather "both of them are important pillars behind our party; they should sit and smoke the peace pipe before we meet at congress, we told them" a source who preferred anonymity told this reporter on the line.

He explained that the meeting deliberately "abstained" from taking sides.

Three of such meetings that had been held earlier, one in Kumasi, Ashanti Region opted for a single chairmanship, something Mr. Rawlings least wants to hear.

Another held at Ho, the Volta Regional capital, did not only opt for a single chairmanship, but openly declared the delegates support en bloc for Dr. Asamoah.

Congress will at the weekend collate all the views of the regional branches and various aspects of the NDC Constitution that are no longer popular would be amended, it was learnt.

When contacted on phone, the General Secretary, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, denied knowledge of such a rumour that if Asamoah won, Mr. Rawlings would leave the party.

On another rumour that there would be moves to get Dr. Obed Asamoah suspended from the party at the Congress so he cannot contest for the chairmanship, he assured that the National Executives had not thought of such a thing.

As for the accredited delegates, he explained it would be difficult to know if any had such motives.

At any rate, he said whoever intended to table a motion would have to comply with the NDC Congress standing orders.

With A few days left for the NDC to go to the National delegates congress on April 27 in Accra, die-hard supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) continues to express their views and opinions on how to make it a successful.

Although the Eastern Regional executives continues to remain tight-lipped over their choices to hold national positions, muffled discussions among them show that they are highly rooting for Mr. Yaw Obed Asamoah and not J. H. Mensah Owusu Acheampong or Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, reports Stephen Quaye.

A ward women's organiser, Mrs. Ewurafua Nyampong, speaking to the Chronicle opted for the abolition of the propaganda secretaryship in the party.

According to her, propaganda means information, that is often inaccurate or biased which an organisation, publishers, broadcasts in order to influence people.

"Therefore, propaganda secretaries seek to persuade people to support a particular idea, or group, often by giving them false misleading or biased information."

She opined that it has never helped the party but rather creates hatred.

Although some other regional executives are calling for the abolition of the national co-chairmanship concept, Mr. Anthony Gyampoh, the Eastern Regional Secretary, made it clear that they are going to the congress to assess the contestants, their views and their qualifications as well before giving their mandate.

The regional secretary urged other delegates to do the same.