<<Print>>

I wish to state that the suggestive report leaked to the press by some persons at the Greater Accra NDC Regional Office on the candidacy of Ras Mubarak amounts to a breach of confidence and a violation of Article 39, clause E. of the NDC constitution which enjoins all NDC members to �show loyalty to the party at all times and in particular ensure that any confidential matters of the party are not divulged to unauthorized persons.� If NDC regional Chairman Ade Coker is the one behind this, as reported in sections of the media, then he has in an attempt to hurt the campaign of Ras Mubarak, breached the NDC�s code of code conduct. It was completely unnecessary and cheap for a regional officer, who should be seen to be brokering peace in the party, to tell the press Ras Mubarak�s �fate is hanging in the balance� because of views he held hitherto to the NDC presidential primary. It is a wrong signal to the nation and playing directly into the hands of people who claim President Rawlings and his friends are being hounded out of the party. For the information of the person or persons behind the leaked report, disqualifying Ras Mubarak because he�d been critical of government will amount to discrimination and a complete violation of Article 17, and clause 3 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana. The NDC is a very democratic party and its constitution clearly spells out the requirements for contestants for the position of parliamentary candidate in Article 43 clause 9 of the party�s constitution. Ras Mubarak has met the requirements of both the National and NDC constitutions. If he is recommended for disqualification not because he didn�t meet constitutional requirements but because of his criticism of government, then God save us all. The party has a lot of work to do ahead of the 2012 election; and the base of the party is yearning for unity. Ras Mubarak has showed a strong commitment to uniting the party not just at national level but at constituency level where he has been preaching unity as the tool for winning the Ablekuma North seat from the NPP. I don�t agree with Ras Mubarak on everything, but he is by far the best person to lead the NDC and represent Ablekuma North constituency in parliament. Ras Mubarak has the strength and depth to face the NPP candidate in the 2012 Parliamentary election. The voter population of Ablekuma North is yearning for a younger leader; voters are looking for someone dynamic, smart and compassionate. Ras is also already familiar with national politics; he is friends with sitting MPs from the majority and minority sides and would not be intimidated or overwhelmed by the work in the House. He has, on many occasions debated some opposition MPs on Radio and Television; he has the gift of the gab and very determined to make a positive difference in Ablekuma North. He would be an asset to the NDC in parliament. In my judgment, it is Ras Mubarak who should be the next parliamentary candidate of the NDC in Ablekuma North. He is the candidate who would get my vote. (The author is a