Nana Konadu Under Fire

The seeming invincibility of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has suffered an abrasive setback, with two apologists of former President Jerry John Rawlings telling her to go to hell.

The two-pronged attack was prompted by the former First Lady's knee-deep involvement in the ongoing fracas over who partners the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Prof John Evans Atta Mills in the forthcoming general elections.

The unusual fire from the duo of Kwesi Pratt and Raymond Archer of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) and The Enquirer newspaper respectively, on Radio Gold's 'Alhaji and Alhaji' programme appears to represent the voice of a segment of NDC supporters about what they think of the woman who once stood as a Colossus in the affairs of her spouse's own party.

Nana Konadu, wife of NDC founder Jerry Rawlings, was given a tongue-lashing from head to toe for allegedly meddling in the affairs of the NDC.

Listeners' SMS text messages were equally not charitable to the one-time power-behind-the-throne during the NDC administration.

As Pratt told the former First Lady that her days as a superwoman in NDC are now over, Raymond Archer told her that she has committed a political suicide by opening her mouth too wide over the Mills partner issue.

This latest development joins the catalogue of woes of the NDC as the party searches for a running mate to partner Prof Mills.

"If the NDC wants to win the next elections, then the party membership should be able to stand up and tell the former First Lady to go to hell," the Insight Editor said.

Mr. Pratt who was in his usual elements, described as rubbish Nana Konadu's premise that because Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu Mahama belongs to various ethnic groupings in Ghana, she is better-placed to partner the NDC presidential candidate.

Frowning at the former First Lady's activities in the NDC, he said after reading the party's constitution, he has discovered that she has no role in the running of the political grouping, adding that her involvement in the choice of a running mate for the presidential candidate is suicidal for the party.

He took exception to what he described as the continuous hacking of John Mahama "simply because he refused to open the gate for the former president when he went to his house".

Explaining Nana Konadu's suspected hatred for John Mahama, Pratt said the former President once visited the home of Hon John Mahama and when he reached the gate he pressed the door bell.

"There was no response and so Mr. Rawlings called Victor Smith to tell John he was at his gate but unfortunately the Bole/Bamboi MP did not hear the call," he disclosed.

The former First Lady, he said, took offence and concluded that John Mahama was arrogant and did not even attend to the former President when he called at his house.

According to Mr. Pratt, at the time Mr. Rawlings called at the residence of Hon Mahama, the Bole Bamboi MP was hosting some guests and besides his phone was on charge in the bedroom. He questioned why Nana Konadu should continue to attack Hon Mahama ever since.

"We are talking about fighting corruption, health services and infrastructural development and not about who opens the gate for the former President," he stressed.

The Insight editor intimated that in a poll conducted within NDC circles, Nana Konadu's candidate attracted less than 40 percent, a development which he said should have taught her a lesson that her days as a superwoman are over.

"Her days as a superwoman are over and she should mellow," he averred.

"The 2008 election is not about the feeding of the ego of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings," he said, noting that the lady is still embedded in the past and should remember that if the NDC is to win the forthcoming polls, it must shed itself of the past where things were done according to the whims and caprices of a select few.

Pratt said that the NDC is faced with internal problems which are making it difficult for the party to tackle its external challenges.

According to him, there are elements within the NDC who are bent on destroying the party and recalled how these same persons leaked the health issue of the Prof to the media.

He mentioned that he had 53 SMS text messages from prominent NDC personalities about Mills and exclaimed: "How can you win elections like this!"

When he took his turn, Raymond Archer condemned Nana Konadu's position on the running mate issue and told her that if she thinks she can step in her husband's shoes, she must be living in a fool's paradise.

DAILY GUIDE has reliably learnt that Prof Mills would likely announce the name of his running mate tomorrow.