Intimidation marks Konadu’s form presentation

An angry NDC supporter espressing his views at NDC Headquaters over act of intimidation.

Hell broke loose at the headquarters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) yesterday, when some party sympathisers who had come from Agbogbloshie to lend their support to the Spokesperson of the Rawlingses, Kofi Adams, were subjected to intimidation by a group of persons believed to be from the camp of President Mills. Mr. Kofi Adams, a Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, was at the party headquarters to submit the completed nomination forms on behalf of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. The forms were received by the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.Leading the onslaught against the young men from Agbogbloshie was Araba Tagoe, an NDC rabble-rouser from Takoradi, and a known Mills loyalist, as well as an unidentified man. Araba Tagoe was strategically positioned at one of the entrances to the main hall, leading to the first floor, where the conference room and venue for the presentation of the forms is located.

Her job was simple – to insult and prevent followers of Kofi Adams from entering the conference room. Some journalists were also not spared her venom.

A Daily Guide reporter, Charles Takyi Boadu, was one of her victims, as he was subjected to a barrage of insults. This reporter also had a hectic time in his attempt to get access to the conference room.

The young men from Agbogbloshie had the shock of their lives when they were prevented from getting access to the conference room. Long after the submission of the endorsed forms, they were still denied access to the first floor, at which point they could no longer hold their patience, and finally decided to give their attackers a taste of their own medicine.

The embattled sypathiser of the NDC showing his frustrations over the intimidation act he received from fellow party faithful.

“You people (referring to the party executives) are doing tribal politics with our party. You’ve intentionally packed the premises with Fantes to harass us. Is it because we came here on our own and so you are treating us like this? We will go back, but I bet you, one day you will come to Agbogbloshie to look for us to fight your battle for you,” retorted one of the embattled sympathisers.

They then directed their anger at a television crew. “What do you want from me? Turn off the cameras,” charged one of the embattled party sympathisers, who attempted to smash the cameras.

The pomp and pageantry that characterised Nana Konadu’s picking of forms on May 3, 2011, was this time missing. Just like President John Evans Atta Mills’ quiet submission of his endorsed forms, which was done on his behalf, the presentation of the former first lady was without fanfare.

The two candidates seem to have a lot in common. President Mills’ forms were submitted on his behalf by the Get Atta Mills Endorsed (GAME) team, led by its spokesperson, Barbara Serwa Asamoah. Around that time, President Mills was returning home from Nigeria after attending the inaugural ceremony of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nana Konadu, according to Mr. Adams, was campaigning vigorously in the northern parts of the Volta Region, at the time of filing the nomination forms on her behalf.

After submitting Nana Konadu’s forms, Mr. Adams told journalists at the event: “This is a testimony of her readiness for the party’s flagbearership slot.”

“It again, concludes the process of becoming the flagbearer of the party, and gives the NDC a onetime victory, come December 7, 2012, so that all of us, as party executives, will have a good Christmas to celebrate.

“We will not have to be preparing for any run-off election, because she is more than convinced that a first round victory is assured by our party,” he said, to the applause of the teeming supporters, who had entered the conference room to lend their support.

Flanked by some executives of FONKAR, Mr. Adams told the gathering that the NDC was noted for making history, as its antecedent Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) gave Ghanaians a workable Local Government structure that has become the envy of many countries.

According to him, the country was on the verge of making another historical feat by electing a female as President, and called on all and sundry to extend a helping hand.

Among the items submitted, aside the completed nomination forms, included a profile of candidate Nana Konadu, a 5×5 size passport photograph, and a payment slip indicating that an amount of GH¢10,000 had been paid at a bank for use by the party.

Mr.Kofi Adams (r) presenting Nana Konadu's nomination forms to Mr.Johnson Siedu Nketia,General secretary-NDC.

General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, popularly referred to as General Mosquito, after receiving the completed forms, glanced through them to verify its authenticity.

“On the surface, the forms appear to have been duly completed, but there is some more work to be done by another committee,” he noted.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia was accompanied by some party executives, including Mr. Akamba, Deputy National Organiser, Richard Quashigah, National Propaganda Secretary, Bertha Amenuvor, Deputy Treasurer, and Alhaji Baba Sherif, Deputy National Organiser.