Lord Commey Lambasts NDC

THE NATIONAL organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lord Commey, has rubbished the boast of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it will recapture political power, come the 2004 general elections, adding that the whole idea is a misconception.

"The whole thinking of the NDC that they could quickly jump up to power so soon after they have lost the 2000 general elections is a misconception."

According to him the NDC, which is now standing the heat as a result of undemocratic tendencies that existed in the party resulting in their 2000 general elections failure, should accept the challenges and stand to build the party.

Mr. Lord Commey who spoke to Chronicle in an interview, called on the NDC and the whole nation to ensure that democracy, which is now taking root in the country and within the NDC, is maintained.

He said the NDC party was built around a personality on undemocratic principles, adding that this was manifested, not only in the 2000 general elections, but also in the six recent by-elections.

"The NDC members have themselves accepted that a part of their losing the 2000 general elections was due to undemocratic tendencies that existed in the party.

He admonished members of the NDC that to be a formidable opposition party, they should endeavour to harness the democracy that is now prevailing in the party and be able to stand the heat by focusing on issues that would help build the party towards the hard times ahead in order to re-gain the trust and credibility of the electorate.

"The NDC had their first share in government, they were trusted with power and Ghanaians also believed in them to the extent that they won elections whether through fair or foul means, but they misused the trust and the power," adding "even though the NDC is at the moment being relegated to the background of unpopularity, that is not the end of the road."

The gentle looking national organizer urged the NDC to emulate the NPP, which also survived the heat while in opposition with commitment and dedication based on the philosophy of the party and its manifestoes.

"People should not forget that the NPP as a party in government today, has refused to die for thirty years and over. We went to hell but we survived because of the spirit of commitment of party members, the party philosophies of our founding members. Our party founders preached liberalism. They died for it and others lost their properties and everything."

He contended that nobody should think that because the NDC is facing some problems in terms of internal wranglings the NPP would rule forever. "I have always said that the NPP as an institution will not rule this country forever.

Nobody should think that when power is given to you, it means that till thy kingdom come.

Apart from our own efforts and the wonderful efforts that we are putting into satisfying Ghanaians, based on our ideologies and manifestoes, it is also God, the divine power-giver who determines when and what time that he has to say 'go and rest for another party to take over.'

"Touching on Rawlings faction, Mr.Commey said, 'I also want to believe that although Rawlings is seen as the founder of the party, he should be given due credence. People say that he should sit back, this should not be entirely so, because the Rawlings fame could build up a fine team that can be used to face the challenges ahead of them. This will go a long way to make the NDC stronger than what we see today."

Touching on problems that erupted among the NPP activists at Ho in the Volta region, Mr. Commey described it as unfortunate but was quick to add that the perceived bad blood between the regional chairman and the secretary is not a serious problem since the party's longest chapter of the constitution has a way of addressing such issues.

He believed that the problem between the chairman and the secretary could be a right cause to maintain the NPP to win power, come 2004.

He said if the report comes to indicate that any of the members breaches the longest constitution of the party, which stipulates means of addressing their grievances, disciplinary action would be taken against the person to serve as a deterrent for others.

Mr. Commey said with the spirit of development going on the Volta region within a little over two years of positive change, the spate of development is really unprecedented, and the NPP is bent on not only plucking more parliamentary seats in the purported world bank of the NDC but also to win more votes.

According to him the idea of tribalism is now a word of the past, saying that as the NPP is committed to development, the electorate in the Volta region will reciprocate by voting massively for the party as a means of appreciation.

"If we work at development as a key factor, then I will not be surprised if we are able to win more than half of the constituencies."