Rawlings joining NDC campaign trail won’t make any difference – Lecturer

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Created on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

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Rawlings joining NDC campaign trail won’t make...

A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana has observed that all though confirmation by former President Rawlings to jump onto the campaign wagon of the NDC can be described as“good news” for the party, it is too early tell what impact he would make in the elections.

Dr Bossman Asare told Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s Top Story Tuesday that the decision has been something the governing party has been waiting “for several years”.

He however conceded that despite the fact that his presence would be a “major boost” for the NDC, there are “several ramifications” for the party as well.

“Certainly there is a credibility issue,” Dr Bossman remarked, explaining that Mr Rawlings’ posture since 2009 could affect his credibility and fortunes of the party going into the 2012 elections.

According to him former President Rawlings’ claims that President John Mahama has brought life into the ruling NDC could be a slap in the face of supporters of late President Atta Mills. “That can also have some negative implications as far as the support base of these people are concerned,” he stressed.

Nevertheless, Dr Bossman Asare was certain that most people have already made up their mind whom to vote for, thus raising doubt about the difference Rawlings’ presence would make in the coming elections.

He said the December presidential election would be a “dog fight” between the two leading parties – NDC and NPP – who are all bent on winning the election hands down.

He therefore emphasised “So I don’t know if the Rawlings’ arrival is enough to change the table in favour of the NDC”.

But on how the NDC could maximize Mr Rawlings ‘homecoming’, Dr Bossman Asare noted: “I think that based on things that have been going on; Rawlings’ statements alleging some deep corruption within the party, and Rawlings turning back to say that he now want to be part of the system he condemned; [it] would be very difficult for Rawlings to be at the frontline. Again they must put him at places where they are already very strong to make him more effective in those areas.”

From: Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com