If Rawlings supports Mahama, he would have endorsed him in Kumasi – Kwabena Agyapong

Kwabena Agyepong, a former press secretary for ex-President J. A. Kufuor, says attempt by the ruling NDC to put a spin on what former President Jerry Rawlings said in Ho is “an act of desperation”.

According to Agyapong, Mr. Rawlings would have endorsed President John Mahama at the ruling party’s Kumasi delegates Congress if he [Rawlings] supports his candidature ahead of the December polls.

Mr. Rawlings while addressing Volta Regional House of Chiefs in Ho, Wednesday said the death of President John Mills gave the late president and the party a goodwill, hinting President John Mahama could possibly win the December 7 general elections.

The former President’s comment has been interpreted to mean an endorsement of the candidature of the President – a situation some political pundits say is quite usual – from someone who has been critical of ruling party.

But members of the NDC is elated by the latest development saying their party founder’s comment has galvanized the grassroots to work hard to ensure a one touch victory in December.

However, on Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Kwabena Agyapong said Mr. Rawlings’ comment about President Mahama’s chance in the December polls does not amount to an endorsement.

According to him, an endorsement is done at Congress and so if Mr. Rawlings had raised the hand of the President at the party’s delegate congress in Kumasi that would have been news.

Mr. Agyapong indicated that the mentality of government is to use propaganda to twist what the former President is purported to have said in Ho for political expediency.

He found it surprising the u-turn by some members of the ruling party whom hitherto said they can win the election without Jerry Rawlings.

Kwabena Agyapong said the conduct of the NDC towards Mr. Rawlings is borne out of hypocrisy and double standards which he says will spell doom for the ruling party in December.

The former press secretary also took a swipe at the state owned media for misrepresenting what the former President said.

He said the Daily Graphic and Ghanaians Times by its reportage is gradually becoming a propaganda unit of the NDC – which according to him can affect their gate-keeping role.

Notwithstanding, Kwabena Agyapong maintained that the NPP has a brighter chance of winning the election in the first round.

He noted that Ghanaians will not vote a government which does not have the capacity to fight corruption he says has reached “gargantuan levels”.

Mr. Agyapong said the NPP under an Akufo-Addo presidency will deliver on its promises if voted into power.