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Ladies and gentlemen of the press, We have invited you here to make public certain unfair tactics being adopted by the Castle and the Mills Team towards Nana Konadu�s Campaign for presidency in 2012, and the falsehoods being peddled against Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR). Our decision to campaign for Nana Konadu is based on our belief in her capacity and capabilities to unite the NDC under our umbrella; Our decision to campaign for Nana Konadu is based on her capacity to empower our grassroots supporters; Our decision to support Nana Konadu to become NDC�s flag-bearer for 2012 is because she comes with decisive and visionary leadership that will work with the grassroots of the party for a true NDC � the true NDC that offers economic security, opportunities for our youth as well as unity and stability in development. The NDC is a democratic party that believes in the rule of law.The NDC is a party that adheres to democratic principles. We, as members of NDC and friends of Nana Konadu are, therefore, surprised at the level of undemocratic tendencies that have characterized the campaign for the leadership contest in the NDC. It has become glaringly evident that the Mills Team is determined to use all and any crude means to cast a slur on our candidate, Nana Konadu, and all who support and endorse her bid for the flag-bearership of the NDC. The latest in evidence of one such attempt to create confusion and discredit our candidate and our organization - FONKAR - was on Tuesday 17th May 2011, in the studios of Asempa FM Station in Accra, where the Deputy Minister of Information Baba Jamal, conspired and aided some unscrupulous persons to pose as founders of FONKAR, claiming to have defected to the Mills Campaign team. Some members of FONKAR who were listening, intervened and exposed those personalities posing as originators of FONKAR, which invariably exposed Mr. Baba Jamal. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we are aware of a deliberate attempt by Koku Anyidoho, Nii Lante Vanderpujie and their media contacts led by Raymond Archer, of the Enquirer newspaper, Kobby Fiagbe of the Lens and the Informer newspapers and other mischievous elements at the Presidency to tarnish the image of Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings ( FONKAR) as a result of our unflinching support for the candidacy of Nana Konadu and our determination to see our party move forward. The Enquirer, in particular, has published on numerous occasions, fabricated stories about FONKAR in an attempt to satisfy their paymasters and cause mischief. FONKAR is also aware of a series of calculated attempts by certain personalities at the Presidency and in government who are applying intimidating tactics towards our members and radio panelists. For instance, one of our leading members in Kumasi, Abdul Rashid Alhassan, was assaulted by thugs hired by the KMA Chief Executive Mr. Samuel Sarpong, after a radio programme on Ash FM in Kumasi last Friday. There was also another attempt by the BNI to intimidate our regional co-ordinators in Upper West, Volta and Western Regions. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, the blatant abuse of executive power to induce, intimidate and lure delegates and other party supporters to vote against their conscience in the forthcoming presidential primary is despicable, shameful, cowardly, irresponsible and a very bad example to the youth of today and generations to come. This practice is most importantly alien to the National Democratic Congress. It is embarrassing that in a desperate bid to cling to power, persons within the Mills apparatus are employing such appalling tactics, which our party abhors. We are aware of a number of government appointees led by P.V. Obeng, Kwame Peprah, Cecilia Johnson, E.T. Mensah, Sylvester Mensah and other misguided elements, who are going round the country distributing money and maligning Nana Konadu. We are, therefore making a call to delegates and supporters in the regions, constituencies, towns, villages and hamlets to stand strong. Please do not fall victim to the lies. Do not to fall victim to financial and material promises being made by such dishonest elements. Do not compromise your ideals and principles. Do not compromise the ideology that drew you to the great NDC party. We are calling on the rank and file of our great party the NDC to stay strong. We are calling on the rank and file of the NDC be wary of element such as Kwasi Pratt , Alhaji Bature, Raymond Archer, Ben Ephson, and the Castle sponsored discredited INFORMER newspaper who are hiding behind the cloak of journalism and causing mischief. There is no doubt that these element harbor serious hatred and have a hidden agenda against the former first family and will do anything to tamper with the foundation of the NDC and the Founder�s legacy. It is clear for all to see, even non-card holding members of the NDC, that Mills has lost his mandate to lead the party. The NDC under his leadership is despondent and divided. Never in the history of the great party have we been so divided. Never have we been so visionless. The party under his leadership is at a stalemate and the only solution is for a credible, courageous, all-embracing candidate with a new mandate to lead the NDC. FONKAR is solidly behind Nana Konadu�s presidential campaign and will continue upholding the legacy of the Rawlings�. Long live FONKAR! Long live Nana Konadu Long live NDC