The former National Organizer of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has asserted that party founder, Jerry John Rawlings, has entered into a blood covenant with the party, and therefore he cannot quit the NDC.
“If you recall, during the launch of our manifesto for the 2000 general elections, then Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council, and also the Standard-bearer of the NDC, in endorsing the manifesto, used his blood for that,” he stated.
“Under no circumstances would the former President ever leave the NDC, this is the only party that can ensure that his legacy is protected, he has worked tirelessly to build the NDC, as a party we will continue to give him the recognition he deserves,” he noted.
He noted that for the love and commitment of the founder to the very survival and the sustainability of the NDC, the former military strongman who ruled this country for almost two decades, would throw his weight behind the winner of the Saturday congress.
According to Ofosu Ampofo, who holds the record as the longest serving National Organizer of the party, no individual or group of persons who in the past deserted the NDC, ever succeeded politically.
In an exclusive interview with The Enquirer, in the run-up to the party’s crucial primaries to elect the party flagbearer, for the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, in the Brong Ahafo regional capital of Sunyani, he stated that the spirit of the NDC is very strong and alive, adding that no amount of pre-congress differences will break the rank of the party.
He referred to the departure of Goosie Tanoh to form the National Reform Party that contested the decisive 2000 elections which the NDC, then the ruling party, lost, as one strong case for the issue that the NDC will remain more united after the Sunyani gathering.
Ofosu Ampofo, who is also the Local Government and Rural Development Minister, mentioned the likes of Sam Garbrah, Mijie Barnor, Peter Kpordugbe, Emelia Arthur, and Kyeretwie Opoku, who left the fold of the umbrella, but had to come back after the demise of the NRP.
He also mentioned the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Yao Obed Asamoah, who left the NDC with the likes of the former Roads and Transport Minister, Steve Senanu Akorli, former Interior Minister, Nii Okaija Adamafio, Kweku Baah, a former Vice Chairman, Francess Assiam, former National Women Organizer, who left the NDC to form the Democratic Freedom Party.
Other leading members of the NDC included Bede Zeideng, former deputy General Secretary, Abraham Kofi Asante, former MP for Amenfi Central and spokesperson on Mines and Energy and Dr. Frances Agble, former PNDC Volta Regional Secretary, who left, on the grounds of the encouragement of undemocratic tendencies in the party.
“I can go on and on, but all that I am saying is that, nobody leaves the NDC and makes any headway in politics of this country, and I know our former President will not want to destroy his own legacy and achievements over the years,” he added.