Obed Extends Olive Branch To J.J, Mills

Monday, 19 December 2005

The incumbent chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Dr. Obed Asamoah has extended an olive branch to former President Rawlings and Professor John Evans Atta-Mills. Dr. Asamoah says the party?s upcoming congress, scheduled for this Thursday, should be used as a platform for all feuding parties to bury their differences and reconcile. According to Dr. Asamoah the battle ahead of the party is arduous adding that it is only when the party is united that it can defeat the New Patriotic Party in the 2008 elections. Dr. Asamoah was speaking during the launch of his campaign for re-election as the chairman of the NDC. The NDC has been rocked by factionalism with one faction being pro- Rawlings and the other being pro- Obed.

However in what some could refer to as a rare occurrence, Dr. Asamoah pleaded with the former President to forgive him for any perceived wrong doing on his part to ensure that the party wins the next general elections. ?I believe that we must use the occasion of this congress to unite. In that respect I wish to extend a hand of friendship and apology to all those with the perception that I have wronged them, particularly to former president Rawlings and Prof Atta Mills.

Let us forgive and forget the past and forge ahead in unity to redeem the nation from the corrupt and incompetent hands of the NPP government,? he said. The animosity between the two camps became intense during the race for the presidential candidate for the party for the 2004 elections.

Dr. Obed Asamoah said such a thing would not happen again. He promised to support whoever will emerge as the party?s flag bearer for the 2008 general elections. ?I promise to deepen internal democracy and ensure a level playing field fro all those who seek office in the party. In pursuit of this, I undertake not to oppose, sponsor or c! ampaign for any aspirant for office, including the flag bearer of the party and I will support and work for any person chosen by the party as the flag bearer,? he said