<<Print>>

There are credible indications that many NDC delegates in the Klottey Korley Constituency in the Greater Accra region will reject the daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings, Ezanetor Rawlings, if she decides to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries.

Even though the first daughter of the former president has not expressed her intention to contest the seat, reports are rife in the media that she has set her eyes on the seat which is currently being occupied by Nii Armah Ashietey.

Pollster, Ben Ephson, recently pointed out that Ezanetor Rawlings wants to contest the seat and that she stands a better chance of winning.

According to reliable sources, delegates within the constituency will definitely reject Ezenator if she makes the attempt of contesting the seat with heavyweights like Nii Armah Ashietey, adding that the medical doctor is not known in the constituency.

Some party activists alleged that Ezanetor Rawlings has decided to seek solace in Klottey Korley following her rejection by the people of Central Tongu in the Volta region where she initially tested the waters.

In a statement, the party members maintained that Dr. Rawlings is a total stranger to the party in the area and that it will be unfair for anybody to think of pushing her to contest the seat, adding that over the years the Rawlingses have neglected the NDC.

According to them, the move by Ezanetor Rawlings is an attempt by his father to control or hijack the party through the backdoor after neglecting the party, particularly during the 2012 election. “The former president never mounted the platform to campaign for us,” one party activist revealed.

Ezanetor Rawlings’ loyalty and commitment to the party has also been questioned as she has failed to make significant contribution to the development of the constituency.

“With her mother being the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and her father showing less commitment to the NDC in recent times, how can their daughter claim to be a loyal member of party?” another party member questioned.

Party members also raised the issue of total disrespect that the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, exhibited to the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills to the extent of contesting him in the party’s presidential primaries.

According to him, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and her husband made life uncomfortable for the late President and his administration, thereby making the then NDC government very unpopular.

According to the Klottey Korle NDC members, the worst part of the former First Lady’s animosity towards the NDC is the branding of government officials as thieves.

They, therefore, cannot understand why a daughter of a First Lady, who branded party members as thieves, will now turn around to lead the party of thieves.

The party members believe Ezanetor Rawlings’ sudden desire to lead the party is an attempt by his parents, who once antagonised the party, to gain control of the NDC again and therefore called on true party members to reject her if she dares make an attempt to contest the Klottey Korle seat.

Many political watchers and observers will see Ezanetor Rawlings as an unreliable person if she decides to contest due to her previous pronouncements.

In a recent interview with TV3 during the launch of the June 3 disaster fund, she denied that she would be venturing into politics soon and so any contrary action may create credibility crisis for her.

According to the party members, the upcoming constituency primaries is not for the highest bidder and that they will instead vote for loyalty, commitment and dedicated service.

They, therefore, called on former President Rawlings to advise his daughter to shelve any parliamentary ambition for now, warning that she will be humiliated at the polls.