<<Print>>

In the midst of the simmering tensions ahead of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC�s) presidential primaries, the Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has prayed for the governing party to go through the democratic process in peace. Three big shots of the ruling NDC, President John Atta Mills, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah have picked nomination forms to contest the flagbearership slot of the party. The presidential primaries is scheduled to take place from July 8 to10, 2011 in the Brong Ahafo regional capital, Sunyani. With damning allegations of intimidation and possible vote buying, it is feared that the governing party could be torn apart before the 2012 general elections, should the current squabbling among supporters of Mills and Konadu be taken to the congress grounds at the Sunyani Coronation Park. Welcoming Members of Parliament (MPs) back from recess on the floor of the House yesterday, the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called on God to have mercy on the NDC so it comes out of the congress in peace to face the opposition NPP in the elections. Political analysts predict that the 2012 elections would be the most difficult contest for the ruling party. �I pray for God�s mercies for NDC�, the Minority leader pleaded, noting that with the level of turbulence surrounding the President, �I hope there is no tsunami at the end of the congress�. The NPP, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu observed, had been able to conduct its presidential and parliamentary primaries successfully without any major problems. He congratulated all the NPP MPs who scaled through the huddle at the primaries. He also consoled the 12 members who lost in the party�s parliamentary primaries, urging them not to be deterred in contributing their quota to the work of the House, hoping that with hard work, they could bounce back. The Minority Leader who is also the MP for Suame, called on the NDC to emulate the NPP, with regards to its congress, in order to avoid internal strife. But just as the Minority leader was praying and admonishing the ruling party ahead of the crucial congress, members of the two main camps in the presidential contest were reportedly exchanging heavy blows at Diamond FM, a Tamale-based private radio station. Bukari Yahaya Alhassan, a member of Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR), a group supporting the candidacy of the former first lady�s bid to lead the NDC, and Adam Mohammed Amin Abio, a Mills loyalist and the NDC Northern Regional Youth Organizer who doubles as the regional National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) Coordinator, were busily trading blows at the radio station. Earlier, Majority Leader, Cletus Avoka, welcomed the legislators from the recess and urged them to work diligently to facilitate the business of the House. The Majority Leader, who is also the MP for Zebilla, congratulated the NPP MPs who won their primaries. He consoled the losers and encouraged them. �I want to encourage you. With dedication and hard work, you could bounce back,� Cletus Avoka told the defeated MPs.