A former close ally of the Rawlingses, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, has told delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region that the former first couple’s ambition to take over the flagbearer slot of the party was borne out of greed, and not because the sitting President had not performed to their expectations.

Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister of Education, who has recently fallen out with the Rawlingses, told delegates at a meeting in the Ashanti Region that claims by former President Jerry John Rawlings that Prof. Mills does not listen to his advice were not true, and that the President had done enough to appease the former President.

The Chronicle sources at the meeting said the former Commonwealth Legal Advisor told the delegates that the Rawlingses had no justification in criticising the government and President Mills, because most of their demands had been met by the President.

The Education Minister contended that President Mills acceded to all the requests made by the former President, which included the appointment of close allies of Mr. Rawlings to key positions in his administration.

Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu contended that President Mills, in order to placate the former President and Founder of the party, appointed people who were close to him, including heads of the nation’s security apparatus.

She indicated that the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Mr. Yaw Donkor, the National Security Coordinator, Larry Gbevlo Lartey, the National Security Advisor, Brigadier Nunoo Mensah (rtd), the current Inspector General of Police, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, and the Minister of Defence, General Henry Smith (rtd), were all close associates of the former President.

The former Commonwealth Legal Advisor said both Mr. Yaw Donkor and Gbevlo Lartey were key personnel in the regime of ex-President Rawlings, and so were all the people in charge of the nation’s security.

“So you see, Mr. Rawlings virtually controls the security of the state, even the late Mr. Owusu Ansah was Mr. Rawlings’ close pal, so how then does he turn round and say that President Mills does not listen to him,” Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu asserted.

According to her, those people were put in crucial positions of the NDC administration, because of the love and respect that President Mils had for the founder of the party.

She stated that she found it extremely difficult to understand why the former President would want to paint a gloomy picture about the current administration and blame Prof. Mills for not listening to advice, upon all the gratitude accorded him.

The Education Minister, therefore, urged the delegates not allow anyone to deceive them into believing that the former first couple had been sidelined by the Prof. Mills-led administration, explaining that the President had done enough to show his respect and recognition for the founder and his family.

She noted that President Mills was the only candidate who could challenge and defeat the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo.

“Let no one deceive you that Nana Konadu can win votes for the NDC. She can’t. So I am entreating you to be mindful of that fact, and cast your votes for Prof. Mills on the D-day,” Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu urged the delegates.

Also involved in the campaign trail was the former Ashanti Regional chairman of the party, Mr. Daniel Ohene Agyekum, who extolled the virtues of President Mills, and urged the delegates not to forget that the survival of the NDC hinged on the victory of the sitting President.