I didn’t vote for Mahama in 2016 – Rawlings
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has confessed for the first time that during the 2016 elections, he did not vote for the Presidential candidate of the party he founded.
Instead, Mr Rawlings voted for the National Democratic Party (NDP), whose flag-bearer is his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
Former President John Dramani Mahama contested that election as sitting president on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr Mahama, the third flag-bearer in the history of the NDC, however, lost to Nana Akufo-Addo who is currently the incumbent.
Four years after the election, Mr Rawlings opened up about his choice at the time.
In a battle where the love of his life emerged as the winner to gain his thumbprint, the former President told Asaase FM on Sunday, July 12, “I would like to make a confession, actually. Was it 2016, we went to the polls? I voted for her (Mrs Rawlings).”
Mr Rawlings maintained that he never has regrets, opting for the woman he has been married to for 43 years, with whom he has four children.
However, he did not disclose whether he would repeat the same voting pattern in the upcoming 2020 polls.
“Whether I will vote for her again or not, I am not going to say, but I did for vote her then,” He maintained, adding, she “deserved” it.
Mr Rawlings wished the flag-bearers of the two parties well, as he seemed torn between supporting his significant half and voting for the man he rejected in 2016 over his high school sweetheart.
Nana Konadu and the NDP
Former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who was a staunch member of the NDC, leading the 31st December Women’s Movement, split from the umbrella party to form the NDP in 2012.
Mrs Rawlings had contested the flagbearership slot of the NDC in 2011, but lost to the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
After the death of Professor Mills in 2012, Mrs Rawlings had hoped to take over.
The NDP announced its formation as part of the opposition to the NDC’s candidate, former President John Dramani Mahama, for the December 7, 2012, presidential election.
Mahama meets Rawlings
Former President Mahama is making a bid to unseat Mr Akufo-Addo in less than six months when Ghanaians hit the polls again.
Mr Mahama recently named his running mate as Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang.
This was shortly after Mr Mahama paid a courtesy call at the office of Mr Rawlings to discuss party matters.
The two former leaders took to Twitter after their discussions to announce a fruitful meeting.
I called on @officeofJJR, this morning in his office, to discuss a number of NDC-related issues. Very warm discussions as always. pic.twitter.com/Jv4pzE8Qof
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) July 4, 2020
Flagbearer former President @JDMahama called on me at my office on Saturday morning during which we held warm discussions on party matters. pic.twitter.com/KVlczrZ2sM
— Jerry John Rawlings (@officeofJJR) July 4, 2020