Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (FONKAR), the organisation shoring up support for the former First Lady in her effort to outstage the sitting President in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential primary, says in spite of intimidations and crude tactics orchestrated by the camp of President John Evans Atta Mills, they were unperturbed.
According to them, they had rather become more inspired and focused to ensure that they produce the first female presidential candidate in this country.
Addressing the media at the International Press Centre in Accra yesterday on what they described as unfair tactics adopted by the Mills camp, Deputy Communications head of FONKAR, Saint Osei, said it had become evidently clear that the Mills team was determined to use all means to cast a slur on the candidature of the former First Lady and all those who support her move.
Mr. Osei alleged that there was a deliberate attempt by Prof. Mills’ aides, in the persons of Koku Anyidoho, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, and a number of media personalities like Raymond Archer of The Enquirer and Kobby Fiagbe of The Lens, to tarnish the image of FONKAR.
‘The Enquirer newspaper in particular, has published on numerous occasions fabricated stories about FONKAR in an attempt to satisfy their paymasters and cause mischief.’
He said FONKAR was also aware of certain personalities at the seat of government, who are applying intimidating tactics towards their members and radio panelists sympathetic to their cause.
He gave an instance when a leading member in Kumasi, Abdul Rashid Alhassan, was assaulted by thugs allegedly hired by the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, after a radio programme on Ash FM last Friday.
‘There was also another attempt by the BNI to intimidate our regional coordinators in the Upper West, Volta and Western regions.’
Mr. Osei told the media that in the course of the campaign, there had been blatant abuse of executive power to induce, intimidate and lure delegates and other party supporters to vote against their conscience, which they described as despicable, shameful, irresponsible, and a very bad example to the youth.
This practice, he lamented, was alien to the NDC. ‘It is embarrassing that in a desperate bid to cling to power, persons within the Mills apparatus are employing such outrageous tactics,’ he warned.
The deputy communications head alleged that some government appointees, led by Mr. P.V Obeng, Kwame Peprah, E. T. Mensah, Sylvester Mensah and other ‘misguided elements are going round distributing money and maligning our candidate.’
He advised potential delegates to stand strong and not fall prey to financial and material promises being made by ‘dishonest elements.’
He asked delegates to be wary of people like Kwesi Pratt, Alhaji Bature, Raymond Archer, Ben Ephson and ‘the discredited Informer Newspaper’, who are hiding behind the cloak of journalism and causing mischief.
‘There is no doubt that these elements harbour serious hatred, and have a hidden agenda against the former first family, and will do anything to destroy the foundation of the NDC and the founder’s legacy.’
Mr. Osei noted that it was evidently clear for all, even non-card bearing members of the NDC, that Prof. Mills had lost his mandate to lead the party, because the party, under his leadership, was despondent and divided.
He dismissed allegations that the former first lady would bow out of the race at the eleventh hour for Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah, stressing that if the Rawlingses made such a move, they would be retired from active politics.
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