President John Atta Mills has said the perceived factionalism in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks any substance and that he is not aware of any such division.
He, therefore, advised those who were holding themselves up as belonging to the Atta Mills faction to desist from that since they were wasting their time.
“Those who hold themselves up as belonging to Atta Mills faction, if there is any, are wasting their time. Atta Mills is not a product by itself but an entity created by the NDC,” he stated.
The President, who was addressing the eighth national delegates congress of the NDC in Tamale last Saturday, however, reminded the people of the need to close their ranks and ensure that unity prevailed at various structures of the party at all times to position the party for future victories.
He asked them to count their blessings that the party won the 2008 elections and wondered where they would have found themselves if the NDC had failed to win the elections.
The President further acknowledged that even though they might have some reservations or be frustrated in the scheme of things, it was better for the party to be in power than found itself in opposition.
He, therefore, advised both leadership and supporters of the party to use the opportunity the congress had offered to forgive each other and chart a path of unity for the strengthening of the party.
“Let this congress be remembered as the event that brought total unity and renewal of a better NDC,” he stated.
President Mills described those wishing for the demise of the party as doomsday prophets and emphasised that, “we should not give the doomsday’s prophets their due; let us not allow the media to set the agenda for us”.
On the elections, the President entreated those who did not win not to be troubled because there was always another chance.
He asked them to take a cue from his personal experience concerning his attempts at the presidency and said, “the serial loser has become a winner and he will be a serial winner”.
The President also tasked the new national executive of the NDC to institute an enquiry into the allegation of vote buying and bribery at the recent election of the National Youth and Women’s Organiser at Sunyani and Winneba respectively.
The allegations were made by some of the disappointed candidates after the elections at Sunyani on January 9, 2010, in which an aide to the President, Mr Ludwig Hlodze, was elected as the new National Youth Organiser of the party, replacing Mr Iddrisu Haruna, who did not contest.
“I am concerned and disturbed about reports of alleged doling of monies to obtain votes; even as they relate to the Castle and I think it is important we all realise that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong,” he stated.
Touching on governance, the President admitted his government’s inadequacies in some sectors but gave the assurance that the situation would improve to give meaning to his better Ghana mantra.
President Mills, however, asked the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to spare his government “the sanctimonious and self-serving effusions,” since they created the mess the nation was undergoing.
“The country that we took over was certainly not a country that had seen eight years of positive change; if there had been candour on the part of the NPP, people’s expectations will not have been high as they are today,” he stated.
The President, however, affirmed that he and his team were undaunted because the government was guided by their commitment to raise the standard of living of Ghanaians. “We are more united, focused and determined to build a better nation for our people.”
President Mills pledged his readiness to accept constructive criticisms from party members and Ghanaians and expressed appreciation for former President Rawlings for his suggestions and advice to the government.
The Vice-President, John Mahama, described the congress as historic, being the first mass gathering of the party since 2005 and the maiden assembly of such event in the northern sector of the country.
He acknowledged that the party had faced some challenges lately and urged members to reflect soberly on those happenings to chart a new progressive course.
Mr Mahama attributed the bickering to open criticisms and hostilities towards each other and the breakdown in the communication system.
He, however, reminded the people that “we have gone through difficult times during which people have died and others maimed. Therefore, our destiny is in our own hands”.
Former President Rawlings also called for party harmony and observed that the NDC might have overcome the NPP government’s malice and viciousness but that the government might also have to deal with the vindictiveness of some of its party members.
He advised the delegates to vote with their conscience by electing credible and hard-working people who could support the government to fulfil its electoral promises to the people.
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