Betty would have ensured landslide victory for NDC •Says Jerry Rawlings

Page 14, April 12, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

FORMER President Jerry John Rawlings has described the choice of Mr John Mahama, the running mate of the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Atta Mill’s for the December elections as good, he however preferrs Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
He said although Mr Mahama, is “a man of integrity” and would be able to help the NDC win the December elections, the victory would have been a landslide if Mrs Mould-Iddrisu had been chosen.
Mr Rawlings who was speaking to BBC’s Focus on Africa and monitored by the Daily Graphic yesterday said that although all the three people who were considered for the slot were good, it would have been better for the party to capitalise on the interest Ghanaians had in Mrs Mould-Iddrisu to partner Prof Mills.
He added that Mr Mahama would rather have been a better choice for the 2004 election if he had been chosen then.
He said that the NDC would have won more votes if that had was the case.
Asked whether Prof. Mills’ choice of John Mahama would strain their relationship, Mr Rawlings admitted that although they had diffences, that would not prevent him from taking part in the campaign towards wresting political power from the NPP in the December elections.
He called on the international community to send election observers to Ghana during the 2008 elections to prevent rigging of the elections.