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Politics of Thursday, 9 September 2004

Source: Chronicle

Why NDC called off campaign launch

... Runningmate to be announced, however
The National Democratic Congress? (NDC) awaited campaign launch, which was originally scheduled to take place over the weekend at the Victoria Park in Cape Coast, has been called off. This follows an emergency meeting held by the national executive committee (NEC) of the party to consider a couple of factors.

The most critical factor for the postponement was the fact that the electoral commission was having a mopping up exercise and as such many of the field officers of the party from the constituency, regional and national levels had to focus on it to ensure that all eligible voters especially those of the party because that is the best process in winning an election.

The second factor they considered was its coincidence with the September 11 terrorist attack, which they think should not coincide with a major political event, being the remembrance day of those who lost their lives and the shock of the American people, was not good enough.

The third factor the meeting considered was the fact that Prof. John Evans Atta Mills is about concluding his consultations with the council of elders and the national executive committee for the selection of a runningmate to partner him.

In an interview with the national youth organizer of the party, Harruna Iddrisu, on the choosing of a runningmate for the party, he said the issue was almost being resolved to determine who would have the nod. He noted that ideally, Prof. Mills would have named the person within the week if nominations were to open yesterday or today but the EC seems to keep on postponing the process of nominations.

?Politically we think it is strategic to cross the bridge only when we get there.?

He debunked rumours that the runningmate issue would come to an end by the close of today adding that it was speculation for now but it would be announced soon.

The Chronicle intelligence has gathered that the misunderstandings within the party top hierarchy was not going down well with the party especially in an electioneering year where everyone had to come together.

It would be recalled that the NDC runningmate saga has taken a lot of interesting turns with different names cropping up on the scenes.

Whilst some are considering the fact that that the person should be a Moslem, others also think that it should be based on merit but from the northern part of the country.

Party activists are getting impatient with the length of time it has taken the professor to announce his partner. They say announcing a running mate three months to the election was too short a period for the person to tour the whole country.

The question now is does the NDC go in for a Moslem who does not have the charisma, or merits or they should pick a Northerner who has all it takes to be a vice president of a country.

All ears are down waiting impatient for the name of the person who gets the nod.