Editorial by The Chronicle: Kudos to NDC for successful elections

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Saturday, May 13, 2023, successfully held its primaries to elect its presidential and parliamentary candidates across the country in preparation for the 2024 elections.

Over 366,000 delegates voted in Saturday’s elections with 739 parliamentary aspirants who took part in the exercise. Also, 47 parliamentary aspirants went unopposed. At the end of the day former President John Mahama was once again selected by party delegates as flagbearer for the 2024 presidential election.

The contests also saw some incumbent Members of Parliament lose their bid to once again represent their constituencies and the party at the 2024 general elections, whilst some fresh faces were elected on the party’s ticket. The delegates have democratically made their choices and it is for the party and its members to accept the verdicts and march into the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The elections were not without troubles. For instance, Dr. Kwabena Duffour filed a suit against the party to injunct the process following what he said were some discrepancies his team had identified in the party’s voters register to be used for the exercise. The Electoral Commission, the supervisors of the elections, at a time had to pull out due to the threat of the injunction process. However, Dr. Duffuor later withdrew the suit following assurances from the party to address his concerns, but later withdrew from the flagbearership race.

Regardless of the challenges encountered, at the end of the day, the party was able to successfully organise the elections. The Chronicle wishes to congratulate the NDC for holding the elections despite some pockets of violence. We also congratulate all the aspirants who won and those who lost as well. For those who have won we expect them to be magnanimous in their celebration and the losers must also not lose hope since it would their turn in the next elections.

We have seen positive and peaceful messages from aspirants and former leaders who lost their seats, congratulating those who won and promising to support them develop the constituencies even though they lost. This is a positive virtue and must be emulated by all.

We also congratulate John Dramani Mahama for winning the presidential primary by bagging an overwhelming 297,603 votes, representing 98.9% of the total valid votes cast. This is the fourth time John Mahama will be leading the NDC into an election. Mr. Kojo Bonsu conceded and extended congratulations to Mr. Mahama for winning the presidential primary.

The NDC must also set up a committee to review their just-ended elections and correct the mistakes that happened. The democratic path is what we have chosen and we must build on it.