<<Print>>

In his relentless efforts to deepen unity in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and sanitize the hot political environment in order to accelerate national development, President John Dramani Mahama in the coming days would be meeting with the rank and file of the governing NDC, leaders of opposition political parties, civil society groups and the media. A source close to the president told The aL-hAJJ that Mr. Mahama will first meet with the media then, members of his party before interacting with leaders of other political parties and civil society groups, a move that many observers say will reduce the political tension in the coming days as the country cruises to another general elections next year. The meeting with the media, according the source, is part of the now institutionalized annual President�s �meet the press� to commemorate his swearing into office on January 7, 2012. The president's �family-get-together� with NDC members is said to be part of his agenda to strengthen the unity in the party and position it to win the 2016 general elections. The meeting is also said to be occasioned by the recent National Delegates� Congress of the ruling party in Kumasi which saw some incumbent national executives losing their positions. �The President thinks it is time we put the outcome of the congress behind us and unite ahead of election 2016. So as part of his desire to promote unity in the party, he will meet the rank and file and senior members of the party and that would be followed with another meeting with leaders of opposition parties and heads of civil society groups,� the source revealed. Those expected to attend the NDC family meeting, the source said, will include party founder and former president, Jerry John Rawlings; the Council of Elders of the NDC, senior party officials, national officers, regional executives, defeated aspirants and all who matter in the NDC. However, it is not yet known if wife of NDC founder, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, whose hubby has been clamoring for her comeback, will honor invitation to the meeting. Nana Konadu has openly turned down friendly calls by her husband to come back to the NDC after jumping ship in 2011 in a botched attempt to contest the 2012 election on the ticket of the National Democratic Party (NDP). But Flagstaff House sources say President John Mahama would be happy to see the former first lady at the �family gathering�. �Although it has not yet been confirmed if Nana Konadu will attend the meeting, President Mahama will be happy to see her. As I said, it is a meeting to reconcile, strengthen the party and mend broken bridges in the party ahead of 2016�so if this meeting marks the comeback of Konadu into the party, that would be welcoming news not only to the president but all members of the Akatamanso party,� the source stated. The source added that the President�s intended meeting with leaders of opposition parties is in fulfillment of his pledge to have regular interactions with opposition parties and opinion leaders in the country to share ideas, foster national unity and cohesion to spur economic development. �The President is also aware that dialogue with the members of the opposition has the tendency of reducing tension in the country ahead of the general elections and the mantra of �to jaw-jaw is better than to war-war� is what is at play here. �He would want to listen from the opposition elements one on one what their concerns are regarding his political stewardship and the way forward,� the source told this paper. According to insiders all the known key members of the opposition including Nana Addo and former President Kufuor would be invited to the gathering to share ideas on ways to move the country forward.