Editorial by Ghanaian Times: Congrats to NDC on launch of manifesto

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched its manifesto for the country’s 2024 general election.

Once a major contender in the December 7, 2024, presidential and parliamentary elections, it was unavoidable for the NDC to present its manifesto outlining the party’s take on elements of nation-building in order for voters to compare its stance on these elements, compare them to their opponents', and make informed decisions as to which political parties deserve their votes.

It’s unfortunate that in our country and elsewhere, some voters, no matter their level of education and social standing, make their decision to vote for one party, a candidate, or another even before the launch of any party or candidate’s manifesto.

However, the manifesto is important because it gives all the party members one voice on issues chosen by the party to dwell on.

Besides, it gives political analysts the basis to see parties’ policies or intentions about how they intend to govern should they win power.

For these reasons, it was good that the NDC launched its manifesto on Saturday, three and a half months before voting on December 7.

As any other party would do, even before the launch, the party’s flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama, his running mate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, and the party’s political communicators had been giving snippets of information on the views and intentions of the party on issues regarding some of the actions the party would take when it gains power in this year’s elections.

That notwithstanding, the Ghanaian Times thinks the NDC manifesto is worth reading as it has outlined strategies to tackle national problems.

Those not desiring to read all the documents can, at least, peruse the highlights.

Two areas under the highlights that particularly interest the Ghanaian Times are secondary education, good governance, anti-corruption, and accountability.

It gladdens the heart of the Ghanaian Times that under the banner of secondary education, the NDC says it will improve the Free Senior High School Programme and expand it to include students in private SHSs in underserved or deprived areas.

This puts to rest the campaign being bandied around the idea that should the NDC win power, the Free SHS program would be abolished.

The NDC take on the program is a great assurance and also a sign that the Ghanaian politician is maturing towards seeing what is helpful to the whole nation rather than feeding the myopic interests of a few partisan people.

The NDC maintained the National Health Insurance Scheme introduced by the Kufuor administration, the first NPP regime in the country’s Fourth Republic, and so we can take them by their word this time too.

Regarding good governance, anti-corruption, and accountability, it would gladden everyone’s heart to see any political administration fight corruption and be accountable to the people.

We want politicians to note that the fight must begin with politicians because in any country where politics is more profitable than industry and even erring politicians are portrayed as saints, fighting corruption will always fail.

It is very helpful that the NDC has launched its manifesto, and our appeal is that should it win power, it should not depart from it but rather seek to improve situations as the exigencies of the times present them.