NDC Delegates Anoint Mahama Flag Bearer For December Polls

President John Dramani Mahama's quest for his

party's presidential nomination in December's polls

culminated Thursday afternoon, when delegates at

the Special National Congress in Kumasi, made him

their choice to continue the "Better Ghana" agenda.

He secured an overwhelming "Yes" vote of 2,767

representing 99.5 percent of the total votes cast.

There were 14 "No" votes which represented 0.5

percent.

In all, a total of 2792 votes were cast, out of which

2781 were valid and the remaining 11 rejected.

A deputy commissioner of the Electoral Commission,

Mr Sarfo Kantanka who announced the results

declared Mr Mahama as securing the bid of the

delegates.

Mr. Mahama's nomination comes a day after the

main opposition New Patriotic Party launched their

manisfesto, having launched their campaign for the

December polls last Saturday.

Dressed in the funeral cloth of the late President John

Evans Atta Mills, Mr Mahama arrived at the congress

grounds in an open-top cross country vehicle and

acknowledged cheers by waving his white

handkerchief at the teeming crowd in the stands.

He exchanged pleasantries with dignitaries and took

his seat beside former President Jerry Rawlings who

had earlier arrived at the congress grounds to a

rapturous welcome.

Mr Rawlings' appearance at the congress was in

doubt given his recent history of accusing the party

of abandoning the values of probity and

accountability on which the NDC was founded.

It was Mr Alban Sumani Bagbin, Chairman of the

Standing Orders Committee of the NDC, who moved

the motion for the adoption of the special national

delegates' congress.

The special congress became possible following the

demise of President J.E.A. Mills on July 24, 2012 who

had earlier been nominated in 2011, to lead the NDC

for the December polls.

His Vice, John Dramani Mahama, succeeded him and

following a National Executive Committee meeting a

few days later, he was endorsed to become the

leader of the party.

The special delegates congress was therefore to

acclaim him as the party's presidential nominee for

the December elections

Solidarity messages from other political parties such

as the People's National Convention (PNC), New

Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP)

, Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), United

Front Party (UFP), Progressive People's Party (PPP),

Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD) and the National

Democratic Party (NDP) were delivered at the

congress.

The scoreboard at the Kumasi stadium was draped

with a banner, which had a beautiful picture of the

late President Mills embracing President Mahama

with the inscription – "A Better Ghana … still

pursuing the vision."



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