The General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has denied reports that Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has declared her intention to contest President Mills for the flagbearership slot of the NDC for the 2012 polls.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, popularly known as General Mosquito, told Citi News that although the National Council of Elders of the ruling party met Mrs Konadu Agyemang Rawlings recently, the subject of discussion was nowhere near the Daily Guide’s publication in today’s edition of the paper.
The Daily Guide newspaper reported that Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings had told the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress that she would take part in the party’s presidential primaries for the 2012 presidential election.
The paper claimed it has exclusive information that Mrs Rawlings made the disclosure before the National Council of Elder of the party on Tuesday, February 1. The report comes on the heels of raging speculation and reports that Mrs Rawlings has set in motion a routinely oiled campaign machine to help her annex the 2012 NDC ticket.
However, in an exclusive interview with Citi News, General Mosquito dismissed the publication, describing it as misleading. “There was a meeting between the Council of Elders and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and not on the instance of the Mrs Rawlings as the paper wants us to believe”.
“I don’t need to speak to members of the council of elders to get authenticity or otherwise of a publication in the Daily Guide because we all have the position that Daily Guide is always drafting stories to create problems for our party. So when there is any publication in Daily Guide unless I see it in any other paper it doesn’t force me to enquire about it or anything”.
“The Daily Guide has been wrong in so many instances concerning the party, myself and the Rawlingses so we don’t use their stories solely as a basis of any happenings”.
The Council of Elders of the NDC is chaired by former Education Minister Mr Harry Sawyer and has husband of Mrs Rawlings, former President Jerry John Rawlings as a member.
When Citi News visited the Labone residence of Mr Harry Sawyer, Citi News gathered that the retired state official was unwell. A member of the Sawyer family told Citi News the former Education Minister “knows absolutely nothing about the Daily Guide’s publication.”
Meanwhile, Editor of the Daily Guide newspaper insists that their publication is absolutely factual and correct. In an interview with Citi News Fortune Alimi said he is not perturbed by the denial by Asiedu Nketia adding that he solidly stands by his story.
“I am not worried at all, who doesn’t know Asiedu Nketia in this country, he is so full of himself. The fact of the matter is that the story is a true story, it is a very credible story and I am standing by it”.