Congrats, Prof Mills & Hon Mahama.
April 18, 2008
The Committee to Elect Prof Mills writes.....
Last week saw the nomination of Hon. Mr. John Mahama as Prof. John Evans Atta Mills’ running mate on the NDC presidential ticket. Deservedly, messages of congratulations have poured in to our running mate, Professor Mills, and the NDC. Just like the millions of Ghanaians who are basking in this great choice by Professor Mills, we congratulate Hon. John Mahama on his nomination and acceptance. The process leading to the naming of the running mate and its culmination revealed the disposition of our flagbearer, his running mate, and the Party in general.
Professor Mills had always insisted that the choice of the running-mate would be based on sober, thoughtful reflection, and the national interest. He refused to be stampeded into making a decision just to satisfy the so-called exigency of the moment. And he indicated that it would be in broad consultation with all structures and stakeholders of the Party. He lived up to the billing and came out with a widely accepted choice. In consulting, he gave substance to inner-party democracy and inclusiveness. Ultimately, he alone takes responsibility for the momentous choice he made on our behalf. It is patently clear that in Prof. Mills, we have a leader who is analytical, sober and has a listening ear.
Hon. John Mahama, as has become clear in the aftermath of his nomination, shelved his ambitions of personal growth and intellectual pursuits to accept the nomination. At the decisive moment, he put country before self and family. It would be recalled that this same quality attracted millions of young women and men to stand behind and with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to lead Ghana towards independence. John Mahama showed that this quality in Ghanaians is far from dead, no matter how much the NPP tries to stifle it by creating unnecessary division and despair through distortions, outright lies, unemployment and poverty-inducing policies.
The NDC, as a party, has shown that it has the capacity to manage and accommodate competing interests for the collective good. A number of interest groups and individuals were naturally disappointed when their respective candidates were not selected. What these groups and individuals should, however, realize is that they were one of several with competing interests in spite of the passion with which they promoted their choices. In the NDC, we welcome diverse opinions, choices, and preferences but when a final decision is reached, we should all support it! The selection process was a manifestation of what politics is all about—articulating your interests and using available structures to make them known. Our collective success in this effort has indeed deepened our internal democracy! All groups and individuals should therefore work towards victory in December 2008 because Ghanaians deserve better than the misery, lies, distortions, misery, and arrogance to which they have been subjected.
NDC supporters and sympathizers should note that those who want Ghana to move backwards will, far from sheathing their daggers, rather sharpen them to sow division in our ranks. This would be done through media stories from so-called “insiders”, “sources close to”, “highly placed sources”, unimpeachable sources”, etc. This might take the form of misleading headlines and stories taken out of context or simply playing people/groups against each other. We should not help our political adversaries by doubting the integrity of our leadership in the Party and the constituencies. If in doubt, verify from the Party structures! Discredited dying horses are capable of very unpredictable and vicious kicks.
Now, it is time to get over the euphoria of the nomination and roll up our sleeves. No election is won on hope. No election is won because the incumbent government concedes that it has failed, even in the clear case of our on-going disaster. No election is won because the incumbent government agrees that it has totally run out of ideas and is banking on manna ---oil-- from heaven!
Elections are won through hard work and dedication, satisfying the needs of the ordinary people. Elections are won through the collective effort of visionary individuals, which the NDC has shown it has in plentiful supply. Elections are won through door-door legwork and showing our people, in the example of our flagbearer, Professor John Atta Mills, that “ I CARE FOR YOU”!!!
To Professor Atta Mills and John Mahama, we stand behind you in the long, difficult but successful march towards reclaiming the vision of our founding fathers and mothers. We shall not falter!
Source: Prof K Danso-Boafo
Mills interacts with the Carter Center
