Ghana's former first lady to run in primaries - history in the making

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings
Ghana's former first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, pictured in 2010, said on Thursday she plans to challenge President John Atta Mills in party primaries ahead of elections next year in Ghana.




ACCRA, Ghana – Ghana's former first lady, the wife of longtime ruler Jerry Rawlings, says she will challenge the current president in her party's July primaries.

Nana Konadu Rawlings, 62, in a letter to the National Democratic Congress' secretary-general Thursday, says she is resigning as first vice-chairman so she can contest President John Atta Mills in July presidential nominations for next year's general election.

This is the first time a sitting president has been challenged by a member of the ruling party. If chosen, Konadu would also become the first woman to stand for presidential elections.

Jerry Rawlings, a former coup leader, went on to organize elections in the West African nation in the 1990s. He won two terms, then surprised the world in 2000 when his party lost and he voluntarily stepped down.