Don’t underestimate NPP- Frm Prez Rawlings to NDC

By: Rapheal Apetorgbor

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has strongly cautioned the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), not to underestimate the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the December 7 general election approaches.

According to him, this year’s general election won’t be that easy for the party [NDC] but rather very demanding and challenging.

“Let me just give you one point. The NPP cannot be underestimated, you know it and I know it. They’ve been in existence for a long time, and have been changing their names up till this day. The nature of who they are, and what they are and where they’ve come from, it’s something they are happy with and they will be there for a long time”, he noted.

He made this statement whiles speaking at the launch of the NDC campaign launch for the 2016 elections in Cape Coast on Sunday.

Former President Rawlings who is the founder of the NDC also advised the leadership and members of the party not to mimic the behavior of the largest opposition party thus the NPP.

“The calculation I want to put before you is that, by virtue of who and what they are, their mannerisms, their character, will necessarily give rise to what you and I are in the NDC. In other words, by virtue of who we are; where we’ve come from, how we came about into being, I keep saying, we cannot afford to fight them on their terms. It’s important that we fight them on our terms. What are those terms? In other words, let’s not mimic their behavior”.

Former President Rawlings says that if the NDC stays focused and sticks to its own principles and values of probity and accountability it would be very difficult for any political party to defeat them in any elections that would be conducted in the country.

“If we can hold onto those principles and those values, we will move way into the future and no one can ever defeat us. We will ride and override any obstacle as we did in the past. Mimic them as some of them are doing and we will run into problem” Former President Rawlings said.

He hinted that he would embark on a tour across the country after this year’s general election which he stated will be used to address ills derailing the probity and accountability gains of the party.

Former President Rawlings called on Ghanaians to have a free, fair and stable election so as to maintain the peace and unity in the country.