I will work with Atta-Mills, if.... -Botchwey

Former Minister for Finance and presidential candidate aspirant, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey has pledged to work with former vice-president, Professor Mills in the event of his defeat in a congress to elect a flagbearer for the biggest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dr. Botchwey whose complaints just like those of Professor Mills should be welcome news to the NDC, is reported to have told “The Chronicle” “in a surprised unsolicited telephone call in a European capital that despite what appears to be a politicization of the supporters of Mills if he is defeated in the race”.

“He was calling from America to confirm that he will be seeking the presidency and that he is indeed qualified to contest as a bonafide member of the NDC. (He surprised many that he was and still is a member of the NDC in a television interview on the flagship programme hosted by Kweku Sakyi Addo).

He was going to contest on his own steam, and on his own merit – not anyone’s poodle, and it was important to him that the NDC be portrayed as a political party that is progressive and beyond the pull and thrust of anyone.

Since Botchwey admitted in an interview with the state-owned daily Graphic and even, days before that, there had been a lot of tension in the NDC camp over his candidature and what looked like a potential derailment of a countdown to a sole smooth ride of Atta Mills to the NDC slot, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu failed presidential aspirant and former Defence Minister, also recovered from his deep slumber shortly after and put in a claim.

Dr. Botchwey noted that he is gladdened and surprised that even before he made a formal declaration with all the bells and drums that usually go with these things, there is such a humbling fervour and support from well wishers from all over the country.

He is coming to really launch his campaign soon. The former finance minister who is clearing his desk at Stanford University, where he has been engaged in some academic programmes after completing his tour of duty at Harvard University, is scheduled to go to Oxford University to complete another academic project before finally leaving for Ghana. Like Mills, he does not appear to be flush with cash, and he shuddered at the thought that it could be a long costly political project. Fiifi, (as the former vice-president is affectionately called), has also just returned from a year-long academic programme in Canada.

Dr. Botchwey did not appear to have sat down and plotted over the years to throw his hat into the ring until the beginning of the year when he had some soundings, he concurred nevertheless, he is optimistic.

“Asked whether he was aware that the NDC war machine appears to be behind Professor Mills, he said he was not so sure”.

The powerful Fante caucus which gives the party such a unique character with their dominance of the Northern Region and the Volta belt is also tilted in favour of Atta-Mills “since the scrupulously careful Kwamena Ahwoi and his rather touchy senior brother Ato combined with the powerful Prampram electoral king, E.T. Mensah, to make Mills, the Atta-Mills of today. It was not Jerry Rawlings”.

Following a question that he might split the party and carry away some of the supporters, he was emphatic on the need for party unity, and denied that he ever entertained that thought. “I will follow Mills round for the campaigns, it is never going to happen of the unthinkable happens and I lose…No”.

He added that they are both from the same region and it will be good if they show united front when they tour the Central and Western Regions, as the NDC did over the years, despite the fact that it is the treasure trove of the nation.

The two regions will decide who wins the next election. The NDC had dominated in the last two elections, until God and the people of the region decided that they were gong to try another party to see whether there would be improvement in their lives and on the road infrastructure in the area particularly, which used for carting the mining, timber and cocoa triangle of resources.

Kwesi Botchwey and Atta Mills are both Fantes with Botchwey, being the one with the lighter tongue. He speaks many local languages – Dagbani and Hausa included – many consider this an asset in these times when the political temperature in the area is in a flux. Mills may be able to speak some Ga.

While Botchwey (Dr.) is publicly acknowledged as a product of Dr. Obed Asamoah’s scheming, Atta Mills is also considered as the handpicked choice of Jerry Rawlings.

With news of Asamoah and Rawlings closing their ranks, the political race now appears to be wide open with the NDC gaining confidence and gathering some steam. Clearly, Dr. Botchwey will bring some excitement and some eloquence to the soapbox as a candidate or a campaign chairman of Atta Mills.