<<Print>>

President John Dramani Mahama is promising to unite all factions within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before the December general elections. President Mahama extended an olive branch to all aggrieved members of the ruling party when he picked up a nomination form to contest the flagbearership slot of the party. The National Executive Council (NEC) has decided on him to lead the party following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills on July 24. The party will be going to congress on August 31 to endorse him as the sole candidate contesting the position. After picking his forms on Thursday at the party headquarters, President Mahama said: �It is only when I am certain that my party is standing behind me that I will have the confidence and courage to go forward.� �I want to [use] this occasion to call on everybody who has been a part of this party, who for one reason or the other has felt grief or been hurt in the past by any utterances or anything anyone has done that has made them feel marginalized, they should put all that behind them so we unite as one people.� He added: �With the trust that has been reposed in me, I will give every effort, that I have to pull this party together. Already we have achieved some success in having our brothers in the DFP [Democratic Freedom Party] rejoin us.� President Mahama further said �in unity lies strength� and so the NDC will work for that ahead of the elections. He also called on party faithfuls all over the country to look forward to a very successful and peaceful congress. �It will be a very organized one so our party faithfuls should get ready� I am confident that God is on our side.�