Accra, July 25, GNA – The National Executive Committee of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is expected to meet tomorrow July 26, 2012 to decide on the way forward to clinch victory in the December polls after the death of President John Evans Atta Mills.
President Mills died on Tuesday at 1415 hours at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. Until his death, he was the flagbearer of the party for December 2012 Presidential poll.
The meeting is also expected to decide on the modalities to elect the next flag bearer to lead the party.
Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, National Organiser of the NDC told the Ghana News Agency that the Party\'s Constitution stipulates that the NEC should meet within 14 days to decide on a congress on the way forward for the position of the flagbearer.
“It is not true that it is in the party’s constitution that the candidate at the last congress who took the second position to become flagbearer should automatically be the flagbearer,” Mr Gyan said.
He said the NEC would take a decision on that and indicated it was likely that there would be a congress to elect a flagbearer, but added that it was too early to start speculating on the contestants.
He, however, indicated that John Dramani Mahama, who had now been sworn-in as the President, is now leader of the party and could highly get the nod by popular acclamation from the delegates.
On the funeral of the late President, Mr Gyan noted that it would automatically be a state funeral and that the NEC would put up a funeral committee in conjunction with the family to give the late President a befitting funeral.
Meanwhile, a milling crowd of sympathizers have thronged the NDC Party Headquarters at Kokomlemle in Accra, expressing their grief in memory of the late President.
A Book of Condolence has been opened at the party’s headquarters for sympathisers to express their grief. The atmosphere at the headquarters was quite sombre as dozens of people were seen clad in mourning red and black cloth, with hand bands.
Some were visibly shocked nodding their heads in disbelief whiles others were seen in tears.
President Mills, who hit 68 on July 21, 2012, passed away suddenly at the 37 Military Hospital while receiving medical treatment.
Some other NDC sympathisers and high profile personalities spotted at the NDC Headquarters included Mr Allotey Jacobs, Central Regional Director of Communications for the NDC, businessman standing trial for judgment debt Alfred Agbesi Woyome, and ace-musicians Jewel Ackah and Randy Nunoo.
As of 1120 hours on Wednesday, 38 people had signed the Book of Condolence.
Professor Kwame Agyenim-Boateng, who told journalists he is the Chairman of the NDC in USA, eulogised President Mills stressing that he was a man who accomplished much within few years.
“President Mills came at the right time in the political history of the country. He was so patient in directing affairs. He did not think about how much he will acquire for himself, but rather what he will do for Ghana,” he added.
Prof Agyenim-Boateng suggested that some projects he embarked on must bear his name as a way to honour him.
“He will always be remembered for good politics. He was talented and selfless.”
The late President Mills was inaugurated on 7 January 2009, having defeated the ruling party’s Presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 election.
He served as Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under former President Jerry Rawlings, and stood unsuccessfully in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections as the candidate of the NDC. He is the first Ghanaian head of state to die in office.
The late President, who hailed from Ekumfi Otuam, was born in Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana.
He was educated at Achimota School, where he completed the Advanced-Level Certificate in 1963, and the University of Ghana, Legon, where he completed a law degree in 1967.
Late President Mills studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and earned a PhD in Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London after completing his doctoral thesis in the field of taxation and economic development.
His first formal teaching assignment as a lecturer was at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana. He spent close to twenty five years teaching at Legon and other institutions of higher learning. In 1971, he was selected for the Fulbright Scholar programme at Stanford Law School in the U.S.
He returned to Ghana after receiving his PhD to work at his alma mater, the University of Ghana, for 25 years. He became a visiting professor of Temple Law School (Philadelphia, USA), with two stints from 1978 to 1979, and 1986 to 1987, and was a visiting professor at Leiden University (Holland) from 1985 to 1986.
During this period, he authored several publications relating to taxation during the 1970s and 1980s.
Outside of his academic pursuits, late Professor Mills was the Acting Commissioner of Ghana\'s Internal Revenue Service from 1986 to 1993 under President Jerry John Rawlings, and the substantive Commissioner from 1993 to 1996. By 1992, he had become an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Ghana.
He was married to Ernestina Naadu Mills, an educator, and had a son, Sam Kofi Atta Mills.
Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in at about 20:00 GMT on the same day. In accordance with the constitution, Mahama\'s tenure will expire at the same time Mills\' was due to end.
GNA
