<<Print>>

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has met some Members of Parliament from the Volta Region and begged them to help him stop John Kwadwo Gyapong, a three term MP for Akan Constituency from becoming NDC Volta Regional Chairman. In what looked like a secret meeting at Sogakope, inside sources said the ex-President ordered all the MPs to switch off their mobile phones indicating he does not trust that they would not record proceedings and relay it to an outsider. But in spite of this some were said to have recorded him anyway then promptly leaked the information. Sources at the meeting reveal that, some MPs snubbed the invitation showing up at the venue only after the meeting was over because they did not want to be part of the �take your government; let me take my party agenda.� Mr. Rawlings is alleged to have pleaded with the MPs to go and convince their delegates to vote against the former MP since he would not be ready to work with him if elected. Daily Guide can say that NDC in the Volta Region is more divided that ever due to this development which many believe is part of road maps to the ex-President�s vision of �recapturing his party� from the hands of people he and his cohorts have called �Team B players, bootlickers, sycophants� among others. It was gathered that,the meeting with selected members to the Volta caucus made up mainly of greenhorn parliamentarians is parts of efforts by the ex-President to ensure he determines that elected executives will succumb to his agenda of ensuring President Mills becomes a one-term President. Apart from two seasoned MPs, none of the Northern Volta MPs attended the meeting but most �freshers� were in full attendance. Our investigations have also revealed Mr. Rawlings is not happy with the current NDC National Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei because he has refused to �piss in� along with him, Alban Bagbin, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and others. In effect the former President is alleged to be venting his anger on Mr. Gyapong whom he suspects has pitched camp with the National Chairman hence his decision to ensure that he does not win the position. The ex-President, according to sources would prefer Mr. Aboagye as Regional Chairman over Mr. Gyapong because by his nature he is very respectful and sober and can be manipulated by Mr. Rawlings and his people in the name of reverence for the founder. The outcome of elections for this position are expected to go either way as the Mills camp is also doing all it can to be in control of new executives. According to party sources, should Mr. Rawlings� favorites be allowed to sweep the positions, President Mills� second term dream would be in jeopardy and Vice President John Mahama�s dream of succeeding him will be a mirage. Some delegates have however told Daily Guide history is expected to be made as Volta Region is likely to go against the wishes of their idol and party founder for the first time.