Nana Rawlings formally launches bid to challenge incumbent John Atta Mills

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has formally launched her bid to challenge incumbent John Atta Mills for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) nomination ahead of the 2012 elections. Rawlings' husband, former president Jerry John Rawlings, has criticised Mills' “indecisive” leadership ever since he took office in January 2009.

The 62-year-old Nana Rawlings and her supporters say that Mills has not stayed true to NDC principles. On collecting her nomination papers on 3rd May, Rawlings told reporters it was “the beginning of taking the country Ghana back where it belongs”.

It is the first time since Ghana's return to democracy in 1992 that a sitting President has been challenged as party leader. Analysts say it shows divisions within the ruling NDC and a desire by former president Rawlings to increase his influence.

Jerry John Rawlings seized power in a military coup in both 1979 and 1981. He then served as elected president from 1993 to 2001, during which time President Mills served as his Vice-President.

Nana Rawlings is popular with her party's women's wing but Mills looks likely to win the nomination, unless other more credible candidates join the contest.

Some 2,500 NDC delegates will cast their vote for party leader at the party congress in July.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Nana Rawlings to challenge Mills' candidacy

For the first time former first lady and President of the 31st December Women's Movement, Nana Rawlings, has publicly said that she will challenge incumbent John Atta Mills for the National Democratic Congress'(NDC) presidential nomination in the 2012 elections.

Last week, when asked about her political intentions at a conference on women's empowerment, Rawlings said: “Having an intent is a good thing and I'm sure you all have aspirations, It is good to have aspirations and it is good to have an intent. The intent is there but I have not declared yet.”

We hear that Rawlings made a similar declaration to former minister of education, Harry Sawyer, at the NDC's Council of Elders in January. Rawlings' supporters are already wearing tee-shirts bearing slogans such as “I believe in Nana Konadu” and “Change, real change”, many of which are said to have been printed on the former first couple's instructions.

In Winneba, Rawlings said that that emerging democracies would only prosper if women are encouraged to run for high office. She spoke of her political ambitions in the context of women's rights: “It is only when women are part of policy planning and implementation that we see the requisite improvement in the lives of women.” This is a shrewd tactic given the growing business and political profile of women in Ghana.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Ghana's Petroleum Revenue Management Bill delayed by lack of consensus

Ghana's Joint Committee of Energy and Finance has failed to agree on an amendment while deliberating on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, which will delay a reading and the recommendation expected to have been presented to the House on Thursday [11th November].

Committee chairman, James Avedzi, said members were yet to reach a consensus on an amendment proposed by the government limiting how much revenue can be used as collateral for loans. Under that proposal, the 30 per cent of revenues that are lodged in funds cannot be used as loan collateral, leaving only the remainder in the budget for the latter.

"We are unable to submit our report to the house today because we could not reach a consensus at our last meeting," said Avedzi.

It is estimated that Ghana will produce around 250,000 b/d by 2013 which, based on current levels, would make it Sub-Saharan Africa's sixth largest oil producer. President John Atta Mills has been adamant that Ghana's fledgling oil and gas industry will not be fuelled by political corruption and scandal.

"Getting our report to the House this week will not be possible. It is our hope that we'll be able to reach a consensus after tomorrow's meeting so that we can submit our recommendation next week Wednesday," added Avedzi.

Should the committee fail to reach an agreement; the report will be submitted for the House to vote on. Initially, the government had wanted the bill passed ahead of the 2011 presentation of the budget statement and its financial policy to be delivered to Parliament next week, however that is very unlikely to happen.

Source: Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

Ghana: NDC leadership struggle warms

A proliferation of large colour posters around Accra and other large towns proclaim Nana Konadu as the best hope for the presidential election in 2012. Their appearance is the clearest indication yet that the former first lady and her husband, former president Jerry John Rawlings, are planning a challenge to incumbent president John Atta Mills at the next party conference of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Former president Rawlings has been gradually stepping up the volume and virulence of his attacks on Mills over the past year and seems unconstrained by concerns that he is splitting the ruling NDC and damaging its chances in the 2012 elections.

Heralded as a part of a campaign by self-styled NDC 'Foot Soldiers', the appearance of the posters supporting Nana Konadu has been shrouded in mystery. Anonymous callers claiming to be 'Foot Soldiers' have been telephoning FM stations in Accra to voice discontent with the Mills administration, but they will not explain how they have raised the money to launch the campaign.

At celebrations in Tamale to mark the 4th June anniversary of Rawlings' seizure of power in 1979, activists waved posters and banners in support of the Movement for Nana Konadu Rawlings 2012. However, the campaign has evidently mushroomed since then, with posters appearing in the main commercial areas of Accra, Cape Coast and Kumasi.

Spokesman for the Rawlings family Kofi Adams has insisted that Nana Konadu knew nothing about the 'Foot Soldiers' and their campaign. However, he said that as party activists they had the right to pursue their campaign and promote their ideas within the party.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2010 Menas Associates

Nigeria to double its oil production by 2030 says SPE

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has said that Nigeria could double its oil production to 4 billion b/d by 2030. Talking at the SPE's 34th conference, in Calabar, chairman of the Nigeria Council, for the international body of petroleum industry professionals, Anthony Abolarin, said that Nigeria is the most lucrative oil producer in Africa, and that it's trade is set to double from 2 billion b/d to 4 billion b/d in the next 2 decades.

“We know the environment, we employ local people and so we become part of the fabric of the communities in which we do business. Ultimately, we are committed to Nigeria for the long-term and it is this that is absolutely key to any company that plans to reap the benefit of high returns in the country,” said Abolarin.

Talking about the forthcoming SPE NAICE, one of the largest upstream oil and gas event in Africa, held annually in Nigeria, Abolarin said that the conference will aim to chart the right course of action towards a sustainable future for the African oil industry.

“We hope to bring to the fore at this conference, issues that will shape the industry development for the benefit of policy makers, entrepreneurs, professionals and the public as they plan for the prevailing and future scenarios in the energy industry,” he said.

The SPE NAICE conference will be hosted by President Goodluck Jonathan, and is expected to be attended by a number of African dignitaries, ministers and the president of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, the President of Ghana, John Atta Mills and the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Source: Daily Independent Nigeria

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