The Upper East Regional branch of the United Cadre Front (UCF) has appealed to former President Jerry Rawlings to persuade Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, to rescind her decision to contest President Mills in July.
The Chairman of the UCF, Mr Alagskomah Asakeya, made the appeal in a statement issued by the group on Monday, in Bolgatanga.
The statement said they still stood solidly behind the former first couple and shared in many of their concerns, but were convinced that the withdrawal of the former First Lady would be in the interest of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2012 elections.
“To facilitate a speedy resolution of the challenges facing the NDC Party and a possible withdrawal of the candidature of the former First Lady in the race, the Upper East Cadres implore all members of our great party to be circumspect in the comments they make in public. They should at all times, show respect to the leadership of the party and government,” it said.
“Whilst encouraging the Council of Elders and the party executives to help resolve the boiling issues that had the tendency of dividing the party, the Front is suggesting the holding of workshops on public relations and communication skills for government appointees, to enhance their daily dealings with the public and party loyalists in particular”.
The statement also implored public officials to emulate the leadership style of the President, by being transparent, accountable and honest as stewards.
Members of the Front urged government to accelerate its employment creation by charging the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to make good use of existing projects to provide jobs for the many job-seeking youths and cadres.
According to the statement, some hardworking cadres were forcefully thrown out of employment in organisations such as the National Mobilisation Programme in 2001. It said they were not compensated after loyally serving the country for several years and many, as a result, had died of shock, leaving their children behind in the streets.
It added that a number of the affected persons had remained unemployed to this day.
“The President has consistently indicated his intention to deal with the situation. We wish to appeal to him to assist in compensating these persons and many others who lost their jobs during the period,” the statement said.