"My candidature has awakened NDC" -Mrs Rawlings

Accra, June 1, GNA - Former First Lady and aspiring National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, says she wants to lead the party not because of what she will gain but because of what she plans to give back to the party. Nana Konadu said there was a clear indication that she was on the right track due to the huge air of rejuvenation that had engulfed the party since she decided to contest. A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said the former First Lady, was speaking during a courtesy call on the chiefs and people of the Asogli Traditional area in Ho on Tuesday as part of her campaign tour of the Volta Region, Nana Konadu described as erroneous the assertion that it was improper for her to contest the presidency because her husband had been the President before. She said President Rawlings would have been out of power for 12 years by 2012 and her quest for the presidency was based solely on the fact that she was a die-hard NDC member who has the capacity to rejuvenate the party by pursuing a grassroots agenda. Nana Konadu said it took a certain level of vibrancy to be able to win elections from a determined group like the New Patriotic Party (NPP). "When we won the last election we wanted the NDC to pursue an agenda that would enable us (the Party) to perpetuate the development of our country and the development of its people but we can see that the party is withering like a flower. It is dwindling and almost collapsing. "Members of our party are actually defecting to the opposition. Whoever heard of a party in government having its people defect to the opposition? Something is wrong. "Members of the party came together; the youth came together; elders came together; they have talked to our founder; they have talked to a lot of our colleagues here; they have talked to me for almost a year; they were putting a lot of pressure and I accepted to be a candidate for the NDC." Nana Konadu said surveys conducted on the NDC clearly showed that if we don't change the candidate we are going back into opposition". "This is why I have taken the mantle to fight to get the party back on its feet when we get to Sunyani; win the candidature and continue to put the party where it belongs in the history of this country. "We don't want a country where there is only one dominant party and if we don't win the elections in 2012 there will be only one dominant party in Ghana, the NPP, and then all of us will have ourselves to blame. "We have a real programme for the country and with the support of all of you; the chiefs, the queen mothers, and the elders in our party and indeed the grassroots, we will be able to move the party forward." The Paramount Chief of the Shia Traditional Area, Togbe Dadzawa III, who led the delegation of chiefs, congratulated Nana Konadu for being the first woman to offer herself to serve the country in the capacity of President. Togbe Dadzawa said: 93We hope your example will urge other women to also get more involved in national affairs by offering themselves for public office." The Paramount Chief urged all politicians to conduct their campaigns with decorum and in a peaceful manner devoid of insults and acrimony before, during and after the Congress. Other chiefs present were Togbe Agbi III, Paramount Chief of Hoviefe Traditional Area, Togbe Afele II, Divisional Chief of Ho Nliha, Togbe Dekortsu II, Afetorfia of Ho Neve, Zikpitor Akpo, Paramount Stoolfather of Ho, Mama Awude II, Asafo Queenmother, Ho Bankue and Mama Afiatsoa II, Mankralo Queenmother.