Rifts as Ghana’s ruling party goes to congress

  1. Posted on Thursday 7 July 2011 - 12:50
    Dolphyne
    Image of Dolphyne
    Joseph Appiah-Dolphyne, AfricaNews editor in Accra, Ghana
    There are seemingly rifts in Ghana's ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the party goes to congress this weekend to vote for its presidential candidate for the December 2012 general elections. President John Mills is being challenged by former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, wife of former president Jerry Rawlings for the party's leadership.
    Atta Mills Ghana Photo: Myjoyonline
    With about one and half years to go before the next election, it is not clear what president Mills’ position will be should he lose at the primaries and such a loss is likely to undermine the remainder of his tenure.

    In the event of a loss, president Mills would be making history by becoming the only one-term president since the country turned to constitutional rule in 1992. President Rawlings did two terms, also achieved by president John Kufuor.

    Accusations of corruption, neglect

    Accusations and counter accusations have hit Ghana’s presidency over corruption charges and neglect by some members of the governing party.
    The NDC leadership of the party appears paralysed in the face of constant attacks on President Mills by Mr Rawlings and people close to him.

    Against this background, the national executive committee (NEC) of the NDC decided to call for an early congress in July to expeditiously resolve the issue of the presidential candidate to lead the party in next year’s election.

    National Democratic Congress

    The National Democratic Congress is a social democratic political party in Ghana, founded by Jerry John Rawlings, who was head of state of Ghana from 1981 to 1993 and the President of Ghana from 1993 to 2001.

    The NDC was formed ahead of elections in 1992 and 1996 returned Jerry John Rawlings to power. Rawlings' second term ended in 2001. His vice-president, John Atta Mills, placed second in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, winning 44.6% of the vote on the second occasion. In the general elections held on 7 December 2004, the party won 94 out of 230 seats.

    On December 21, 2006, Mills was overwhelmingly elected by the NDC as its candidate for the 2008 presidential election with a majority of 81.4%, or 1,362 votes. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah was second with 8.7% (146 votes), Mahama Iddrisu was third with 8.2% (137 votes), and Eddie Annan was fourth with 1.7% (28 votes).

    In April 2008, John Mahama was chosen as the party's vice-presidential candidate. On January 3, 2009, Mills was certified as the victor of the December 28, 2008, run-off election to become the next president of Ghana.

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