There appears to be simmering tension within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) as former President Rawlings is reported to have asked party executives to reject President Mills ahead of the 2012 elections. The former president made the call at a meeting with some Ashanti Regional NDC Executives on Monday in Kumasi. But the executives are divided - while some of them have endorsed his comments, others have expressed disquiet, describing the comments as divisive. Luv FM’s Elton John Brobbey reported that the meeting was held behind closed doors with the former president proffering a litany of reasons why the executives need to change the sitting president for next year's general elections. He is said to have, among other things, accused the president of failing to fulfill the party's elections 2008 campaign promises - fighting corruption, pursuing justice for unresolved murders and upholding morality in the country. The Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the NDC, Kweku Boahen who confirmed the former president's comments to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, host of Joy FM's Super Morning Show, said Mr. Rawlings has vowed not to campaign for President Mills if he (Mills) is chosen to lead the party into the 2012 elections. Mr. Boahen said he and some executives who were at the meeting disagreed with their party founder, insisting that President Mills deserves to go for another four-year term. He intimated that the youth will not sit unconcerned and watch the party plunged into irretrievable doom; instead, they will ensure that the president wins the 2012 elections because it is better for the NDC to be in power than in opposition. Another party executive, Joseph Yamin, who was at the meeting however denied hearing the former president make such comments. As far as Mr. Yamin is concerned, the meeting was organized to thrash out differences and for party executives to express their opinions on certain topical party issues. The former president is reported to have extolled the virtues of his wife albeit he was quick to add that he was not campaigning for her. This new call from the former president lends credence to rumours that he is actively canvassing support for his wife who is widely expected to contest President Mills in the party's upcoming presidential primaries. Following the acquittal and discharge of some 15 people who were facing trial for the murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, an incensed Mr Rawlings publicly declared that the ruling party needed to be cleaned up if the party wanted to remain in power. Story by Derick Romeo Adogla/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana