Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Spokesperson for ex-president Rawlings, Mr. Kofi Adams, has refuted claims that former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is planning to contest the upcoming elections as an independent presidential candidate.

Posters of Nana Konadu are said to be flying across Tamale in the Northern Region and some parts of the Ashanti Region, supposedly announcing her intention to contest as a presidential candidate this year.

According to PeaceFM’s Northern Regional correspondent, Kwabena Ntow, the posters bear the portrait of a smiling Mrs. Rawlings in her usual white Kaba and Slit with a head gear designed in the colours of the NDC. It also has a “Sankofa” sign with the inscription, “Konadu for President 2012.”

Similar to the ones that surfaced in the Eastern Region of Ghana a couple of weeks ago, some say this could mean that the former first lady’s presidential ambition is gaining ground as her loyalists openly display her posters in various parts of the country.

However, speaking as a panelist on PeaceFM’s flagship programme, Kokrokoo, Kofi Adams was emphatic that the former First Lady has not purposed to run as an independent presidential candidate in this year’s elections. He however stressed that “surely, Nana Konadu, through the delegates of NDC will lead the NDC party to a general elections in future.”

“…There is no way Nana Konadu will go independent, there is no way…Kwami, as I sit here with, if I claim to know the identities of those who displayed the posters, then I’m not being honest with you…I will be lying to you if I say I know (those responsible); yes it could be someone’s agenda to discredit Nana Konadu…,” he said.

According to him, though the country’s constitution does not de-bar anyone from putting himself or herself up as a potential independent presidential candidate for 2016 or 2020, he believes this is a smear campaign to wipe away any respect Mrs Rawlings has gained and is likely to gain from delegates’ in future congress.

“There is no national position stipulating that if one wants to be an independent presidential candidate in 2016, the person cannot print and display posters today…therefore if the former First Lady wants to run as an independent presidential candidate in 2012, there is no way having agreed on it, should any posters be displayed, i (Kofi Adams) or anybody else for that matter will issue a denial. When that happens, how can you motivate your people on the ground to work for you?...And I surely believe that it’s the work of some persons to discredit her…but it won’t fly. It will not fly…and I can assure you that in any future congress of the NDC for presidency, Nana Konadu will vie for it and I’m sure she will get the nod…,” Kofi Adams stated rather emphatically.