A member of the legal team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba, believes the ruling party stands a better chance of winning the December elections without its bitter founder, Jerry John Rawlings.

Mr. Amaliba said the 20-year-old party cannot ?waste time? in solving the rift between Rawlings and his ?successor? ? President John Evans Atta Mills ? when there are pressing national issues to tackle, especially in an election year.

Former President Rawlings once again took a swipe at his one-time bosom friend, President Mills, at the 33rd anniversary celebration of his June 4, 1979 uprising. He told an open gathering that the NDC government is in a ditch and they have lost the chance to win the 2012 elections because they have shunned the ?ideals, the principles and values of June 4th.?

However, speaking on The Big Issue of Citi FM on Saturday, the lawyer said the upcoming general elections, which is a straight fight between candidate Mills and the New Patriotic Party?s (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo, is not about Rawlings, but about issues.

?Ghanaians will vote according to their conscience and not what Rawlings will say. We should think of going to the elections minus Rawlings,? Lawyer Amaliba said. ?We can?t continuously waste time in wooing them [Rawlings and Mills] back.?

?If he [Rawlings] comes on board so be it. What Rawlings says or does not say will not affect the chances of this government.?

Lawyer Amaliba pointed out that Rawlings, as a founder, may be right with his assessment of the government, but using the court of public opinion to channel his grievances, when there are laid down party communication structures, is unacceptable.

?Even in his camp, they are saying they agree with him, but the modus operandi is what they have problem with.

?If two brothers fight to their death, a stranger will inherit their father?s estate. So if we don?t take care the NPP will win the elections? People will vote not because Rawlings says the party is in a ditch, but because the administration has done tremendously well,? Mr. Amaliba stated.