Rawlings Facing Big Test in Poll

credit: Francis Kokutse

For the first time since former President Jerry Rawlings burst onto the Ghanaian political scene on June 4, 1979, his much talked about charisma and hold over the ordinary people in the country is to be put to the test on July 8 when his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings stands against President John Atta Mills for the right to lead the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in next year’s election.

Already signs that the Rawlings myth has been broken has emerged.

When President Mills launched his campaign, he was surrounded by old friends of the Rawlingses.

Among them were Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Miss Sherry Aryittey and Mr Kwame Peprah, all former ministers under Mr Rawlings.

Whilst some people described the presence of these people to show support to President Mills as a stab in the back, some of the known supporters of Mr Rawlings say, it is rather what he has taught them to do.

Deputy minister of finance, Mr Fiifi Kwettey who served as a spokesman for Mr Rawlings before being picked by President Mills said, “Rawlings has always taught us to stand by the truth and made us to understand what positive defiance is all about. This time round, we want to let him know he is in the wrong and would not support his decision to make his wife challenge President Mills.”

There are older Ghanaians who simply do not understand the twist within the ruling party.

“This is no longer the Rawlings we know. That, very young people within his own party would have the gut to openly challenge him is new,” said, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, 65 and who claims to be an admirer of Mr Rawlings. Even though Nana Agyeman-Rawlings has only picked her nomination form and launched her campaign, there are already indications that, the fight may be dirty.

People close to Mr Rawlings claim President Mills is engaging in vote buying which is something that Mr Rawlings alleged recently when he addressed some party supporters.

A close friend of the Rawlingses, Mr Herbert Mensah has told an Accra Radio that, that he has picked up credible information from some security officials that, President Mills has budgeted GHC 90 million ($60 million) for his campaign to win the leadership contest.

The main opposition party the New Patriotic Party (NPP) meanwhile, has issued a statement condemning the allegation and and “disregard for public order and time” following a traffic jam that was caused in Accra on May 5, the day President Mills picked his nomination forms.