Rawlings And Kufuor Missing

Atiwa constituency by-election which would have been a perfect setting for the two main political parties in the country – the NDC and the NPP – to test their supreme standing for the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, is passing without the active participation of the two surviving ex-presidents Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and Mr. John Rawlings and Mr. John Agyekum Kufour.

While ex-President Kufuor is out of the country for official assignment, ex-president Rawlings is in the country, but has uncharacteristically stayed out of Atiwa constituency where most party supporters were expecting him to add life, flavor and colour to the NDC campaign to miraculously win the seat from the NPP.

Jerry Rawlings’s absence has left many political analysts and NDC supporters, especially, wondering whether he had started distancing himself from the party he founded, having registered his disappointment in the direction of the Mills government, especially on the issues of punishing corrupt officials of the Kufour regime and also giving hope to the teeming party youth.

The Herald newspaper is informed that Mr. Rawlings has decided to be backbencher in NDC party matters and activities. At a recent meeting of National Executives of the party, he surprisingly attended; he was a mere listener throughout the entire meeting.Present in the meeting described by party insiders as “Fireworks” was Dr. Ekow-Spio-Garbrah. It lasted for hours but without a word from Mr. Rawlings.

In Mr. Jerry Rawlings’ view, the NPP corrupted both social and moral fabrics of this country, hence ought to be dealt with. He has not failed to accuse the NPP of murder, blatant stealing and destruction of key state institutions like judiciary, clergy and the security services, hence allowing them to go unpunished spells doom for this country, as future public office holders will emulate them.
Mr. Rawling’s telling absence from the Atiwa constituency could be seen by many as a sign of things to come in the run up to the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

Meanwhile, officials of both parties are on the ground campaigning for their respective candidates. The Atiwa seat became vacant following the death in London of Mr. Kwasi Annor Ankamah, the NPP Member of Parliament for the area. The candidates in the race are Mr. Attah Twum of the NDC, Mr. Kwasi Amoako Attah of the NPP, Mr. George Padmore Apraku, of the New Vision Party and Mr. Kasum Abdul Kalim of the People’s National Convention (PNC).

Source: The Herald