Rawlings visits Mills at castle
President John Mills and Jerry Rawlings
Aide to ex-President Rawlings Kofi Adams has confirmed the visit amidst reports that they had met in Equatorial Guinea.
According to Mr. Adams, the rare visit by ex-President Rawlings was hinged on the fact that the NDC founder was not in town when President Mills returned from his ‘routine’ medical checkup in the USA four weeks ago.
It was the first visit to the Castle since the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP), a breakaway group from the NDC allegedly spearheaded by former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
He dismissed reports that they met in Equatorial Guinea when the former President was the guest of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The visit was to enquire about the trip to the medical experts in the US and perhaps to find out about the health condition of the president who is said to be convalescing.
Mr. Adams would not volunteer any more details about further interactions at the meeting, but said the 10-minute meeting was cordial.
However, information picked up by DAILY GUIDE indicates that during the brief encounter, President Mills seized the opportunity to persuade the highly charismatic ex-President to lead the charge for National Democratic Congress (NDC) in their party’s campaigns and rallies in the run-up to the December 2012 general election.
However, it is believed that ex-President Rawlings flatly turned down attempts by President Mills to coax him to campaign for the NDC.
Jerry Rawlings is noted for his popularity among the NDC’s grassroots supporters.
This is the first time in many months that the two have met face-to-face. It is unclear who initiated the meeting as both sides have kept tight lips on the subject.
Indeed, it is alleged that President Mills had initially wanted to take the bull by the horn by personally visiting the Ridge Office of Mr Rawlings, but was discouraged from that move by Jerry Rawlings himself who thought it more prudent to make the trip to the Castle himself.
Since the NDC assumed power in January 2009, the relationship between President Mills and his benefactor has become extremely frosty.
The two leaders have an entirely different idea of how the governance style of the ruling NDC should be.
While Jerry Rawlings wants a more radical governance style, President Mills prefers a more laid-back approach which has earned bitter criticisms from Jerry Rawlings.
Ex-President Rawlings has accused the Mills government of veering off the fundamental ideals of the NDC and to him, this is evident in the rampant corruption and misrule being experienced in the NDC government.
He has made these allegations on countless platforms.
The disagreement between the two ideologies has creating massive cracks within the NDC.
Consequently, two opposing camps have emerged in the ruling party threatening to ruin its electoral chances.
The NDC is currently on the verge of splitting as a parallel party has emerged from within.
The recently-launched National Democratic Party (NDP), it is believed, has the wife of ex-President Rawlings, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, as its mastermind.
Several attempts at reconciliation have been botched and the latest visit to the Castle is viewed as the last serious attempt at reconciliation.
Source Daily Guide Ghana
Category: Politics
