The former First Lady of Ghana Nana, Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has finally launched her campaign to kick start a rigorous nationwide tour to canvas for vote from delegates to elect her as the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2012 presidential election. She has since picked her nomination forms.

The Presidential aspirant , the former First Lady of Ghana and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement (31st DWM) , Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who was ably supported by her husband former President Rawlings said, President Mills' government has failed to pursue the “NDC’s avowed commitment of defending the will of the people.”

“Let us take back the heart and soul of the NDC, let us work to uproot the culture of apathy, the culture of indiscipline and the culture of carelessness that has engulfed this country today. Let us infuse dynamism and vitality back into the NDC,” she urged.

Mrs Rawlings stated that it was time for a “regeneration of the true spirit of devotion and loyalty” to the tenets NDC party.

“I stand before you here today because I represent social justice and a leadership that believes in a bottom-up approach to governance,” she said adding “the time has come to choose a person who will offer effective leadership, who will be honest about the choices and the challenges we face, a person who will give you hope, who will listen and learn from you.”

In her speech she said, the presence of her supporters and the party as a whole confirms the belief and support for change in the NDC. 

She said, with your support to bring the party back on track and go back to the core values of the NDC, there is the need to vote for a candidate who promise change, probity, accountability freedom and justice as a bed rock for every nation including Ghana.

She was of the belief that something dynamic and phenomenal is going to happen to the NDC for victory 2012 when the good people of Ghana vote for real change.

She said the time has come to show the spirit of devotion and put an end to politics that perceive division and vindictiveness.

She called herself a principle woman and someone who want to see Ghana devoid of disease but with unity, stability and development.

“I’m a Rawlings and proud to be married to Mr. Jerry John Rawlings who laid down his life for Ghana at the time the country was crawling and bleeding for development and felt how he feels whenever he criticize any leadership in the country. This is because H.E J.J Rawlings did not lead Ghana to his personal comfort”, she said.

Mrs. Rawlings added that, she was proud to uphold his principles which will lead her and the NDC to victory 2012.
She said she represents mindedness and social justice, effective leadership, honesty and represent the future of the NDC.

Mrs. Rawlings was hopeful she will change the cause of victory in Ghana and called on women to come closer and move Ghana forward.

She appealed to the Party’s delegate to take the will of change and vote for her to make her the Presidential candidate of the Part come July, 2012 at when the Part holds its National Delegate Congress in the Brong –Ahafo regional capital, Sunyani.

Mrs. Rawlings called on delegates who will vote at the July 8 Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reject any attempt by elements within the party to bribe them.
“A true blooded NDC leadership does not buy support, No! We don’t buy support. A true blooded NDC leadership does not buy votes. We don’t buy votes we work towards the votes. Indeed we do not buy delegates. This tendency is destroying the spirit and tenets of the NDC and it is a shame,” Mrs Rawlings said to the teeming supporters.

She said “there is now a politics of threats. A politics of fear, a politics of financial influence being imposed on our party… Let us work to remove the politics of vindictiveness, let us work to remove the politics of arrogance that is being introduced into our party and restore hope trust and respect to our party and the people of Ghana.”

The Former President of Ghana Flt Lf J.J Rawlings congratulated his wife, Nana Konadu for taking up such a great step and said the time has come for women to begin to take the challenge to rise to the occasion and contribute their efforts to the development of Ghana.

He said, the NDC party which wrestled power from the opposition party in 2008 elections, had lost all its credibility and can been seen losing the 2012 elections, until a change in gear is restored. “I’m not saying this to disrespect the incumbent President Mills of the same party,” he said.

He said, the current President Mills whom he supported and campaigned for when all people around him deserted him, has not live to the general principles of the party (NDC). “President Mills’ Government has not done enough to put to justice the killers of Yana Yakubu Andani ,regent of Dagbgon. The President has also not brought to justice the corrupt Government officials from the previous NPP administrations who are still enjoying themselves.”

He said this kind of selfishness cannot continue to go on as it has been for the past two years since the coming back into power of the party.

What the opposition did has not been investigated and President Mills’ government had lost almost every case against them, this kind of selfishness cannot go on, he said.

He made a passionate appeal for all to spread the message to their various constituencies.

Source: africanews