Monday, July 11, 2011
From Edmund Mingle, Sunyani.
With a landslide victory, President John Evans Atta Mills at the weekend obtained the mandate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in his bid for a second term in office, promising to help in solving the problems that threaten the progress of the party.
He won the party’s presidential primaries at the party’s Special National Delegates Congress in Sunyani, by 2,771 votes representing 96.9 per cent of to beat his only contender in the historic contest, Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who had only 90 votes, representing 3.1 per cent.
The win at the peaceful congress makes President Mills the second presidential candidate to be elected for the 2012 elections, after the opposition New Patriotic Party chose its flagbearer last year.
Although massive win demonstrated the enormous support he enjoys among rank and file the party, as against the weaned loyalty for the former President Rawlings and his wife, President Mills said the victory is for the entire party.
“This victory is not for any person. It’s for all of us,” he told the Congress in his victory speech.
According to him, the contest for the flagbearship of the party has helped in revealing the issues that need to be addressed to ensure the progress of the party.
President Mills congratulated Mrs. Rawlings, for putting up “such a good fight which has helped us to come to terms with the issues confronting us,” saying “it is important for us to understand each other.”
“Let us leave here a united party. There should be no bickering, no name calling, no divisive tendencies,” he told the Congress which had the theme, “Unity in diversity for a better Ghana.”
Acknowledging that the real battle was for a win in the general elections, President Mills called for unity of purpose, and promised that he would do his part to ensure that progress of the NDC.
He thanked the delegates for the massive support, pledging that he reciprocate by working hard deliver on the party’s promises to Ghanaians so as to justify the party’s request for its retention in power.
“Your support cannot be taken for granted,” he said.
After the declaration of the results, a rather calm Mrs. Rawlings, demonstrated political maturity when she shook the hands of President Mills to congratulated him, after which his husband and Founder of the Party, former President Rawlings, who strongly supported his wife for the contest, also congratulated the victor, amidst loud cheers from delegates.
As expected, the Coronation Park where the event was held went into frenzy after the results were declared, as the rank and file of the party celebrated the victory, and the success of the congress.
