Reports reaching The Herald say that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is organizing itself to launch a dirty smear campaign against the Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama, in order to undermine and discredit the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government ahead of the 2012 elections.

The option to attack the vice-president is the result of the difficulty the NPP is finding in smearing President John Evans Atta Mills as a way to react to what the NPP says are “drug abuse lies” being hurled at the person of Nana Akuffo-Addo, the flagbearer of the NPP.

The reports say that secret meetings are being held in the East Legon residence of the flagbearer of the NPP to devise a smear campaign that will paint Mr. Mahama as a womaniser who has fathered not less than 24 children from several women he has bedded on the blindside of his wife, Lordina Mahama.

The Herald’s sources say that some of the people at the meeting were John Kumah, Samuel Awuku Hopeson, Richard Nyamah, Yaw Adomako Berfi, Asamoah Gyamfi, all belonging to the young patriots, a group associated with the NPP. They have the express backing of the NPP Communications Director, Nana Akomea.

The NPP projects Mr. Mahama as one of the richest men in Ghana, and responsible enough in providing for his concubines, as well as providing good education for their children, hence they are not talking in a bid to expose his so-called philandering.

Meanwhile, in the NDC, Mr. Mahama is presented as a traitor, who made so much money through consultancy contracts awarded by the NPP during its tenure of office, and therefore, cannot be critical of the NPP party as he should be.

Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, his younger brother, is also said to have made so much money under the NPP government, through his construction company, Engineers and Planners.

The NDC members point to Mr. Mahama’s tendency of attending social events connected with NPP elements, for instance his honouring of a Non-Government Organization (NGO) launch by Andrew Awuni, an NPP activist who once served as the Press Secretary to ex-President Kufuor, and the wedding ceremony of Kweku Baako of the New Crusading Guide and an unofficial NPP spokesman.

Mr. Mahama is said to have also benefited from some state lands and properties that were given out virtually for nothing to NPP members.

Mr. Mahama’s property is said to be located at Roman Ridge in Accra. The Young patriots recently issued a stern warning to President Mills, calling on him to stop the mudslinging that they said was being perpetrated by his (Mills) appointees against Akufo-Addo.

Three days ago, Mr. John Kumah was picked up by the police on his way to Hot FM, apparently to mudsling President Mills as a gay, who has been practicing the act with Mr. Ato Ahwoi, Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corperation (GNPC).

Last Saturday, Mr Kumah made the same remarks against the President on Asempa FM. Mr. Ato Ahwoi has, meanwhile, served notice that he is dragging Mr. Kumah who is said to be a law student at the Ghana School of Law, to court.

Mr. Kumah who was vehemently defended by Nana Akomea has also claimed that he feels honoured for his arrest because he was doing his party’s job.

Attempts to reach John Jinapor, spokesperson for Mr. Mahama, on the matter proved futile.