Propaganda secretary of the ruling NDC says the choice of Ashanti Region as venue for the party’s special delegates congress is to demonstrate the strength of the party. Many have questioned the choice of the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi as venue for the congress because it is the strong hold of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). But speaking on MultiTV’s Current Affairs Program, PM: Express, Richard Quarshiegah, said, the National Democratic Congress, as a mass party wants to demonstrate its strength across all regions, including the perceived strong hold of its main opposition rival, the NPP. He likened the Kumasi venue to the Biblical exposition of Samson in the lion’s den. In an earlier interview with JOYNEWS TV, UK/Ireland Chairman of the NDC Horace Tetteh described Kumasi as an “NPP den”, but went ahead to say, the NDC was confident in its democratic credentials to pull off the special congress peacefully. Buttressing Mr. Tetteh’s point, Richard Quarshigah said the move to hold the congress in Kumasi, is a strategic one and intended to show the value of the party in the region. He conceded that though the Ashanti region is an NPP stronghold, the NDC also have a reasonable following there and this appears to be shoring up particularly with the demise of the late president, Prof. John Mills. Mr. Quarshiegah said; “we know from our own assessment that the value of the NDC has gone up so much especially after the unfortunate demise of the late president. The ordinary Ghanaian before the cameras gave the NDC thumbs up, they said in areas that they did not have motorable roads, portable water and schools, the NDC in three and half years have provided for them”. According to him, it was necessary that they chose a region where they are perceived to be weakest to demonstrate this change of tide in Ghana to the entire country. President John Mahama is the only candidate vying for the position of Flag-bearer of the NDC, after being nominated by the National Executive Committee of the party. Following the death of President Mills and subsequent swearing in of John Mahama as President, the NEC, acknowledged him as leader of the party, but as per demands of the NDC constitution, he needed to officially file his nomination and present himself for selection by a special delegates’ Congress, scheduled for Thursday August 30. His selection will be by a secret ballot of all delegates. However critics have questioned the need for subjecting him to the voting processes of congress, when it was obvious that his nomination and selection by NEC makes the congress procedures a mere formality. John Mahama must win two thirds majority of votes to become Flag-bearer of the NDC. On the question of what happens if he does not get the two thirds majority, Mr. Quarshiegah, was emphatic to say that this is not likely. He expressed confidence that John Dramani Mahama will attain 100% of the votes beyond the two thirds majority required to cement his authority as the NDC flag-bearer at congress on Thursday. The party is not going to acclaim the president who so far is the only that picked up nomination forms for the position of flagbeareer. Richard Quarshigah says at the moment, John Dramani is the most "sellable" candidate the NDC has. Polster Ben Ephson agreed that if the NDC campaigns well in the Ashanti region and is able to clinch 35% of Ashanti votes, the party would be able to win the election in a first round. He said if NPP attacks Mahama’s personality as part of its campaign strategy, it will put off floating voters, who would end up rather voting against the NPP. Meanwhile, former President Rawlings, one of the harshest critics of the Mills Administration, is attending the NDC delegates’ congress. His wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has been linked to the breakaway party, National Democratic Party (NDP). As founder of the NDC and a delegate, the former President has the right to attend the congress, but there have been questions over what benefit his presence will bring to the Mahama campaign. Pollster Ben Ephson believes, Rawlings’ decision to make an appearance at the Kumasi congress, is a strong indication that he does not support his wife’s ambition to associate with the new party, NDP. This Ben Ephson views as the beginning of the end of NDP, which might end up rejoining the NDC, just as DFP has done.