NDC Not Dead

Last Wednesday’s Election 2008 campaign launch and inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as the presidential running mate to the NDC flagbearer in the approaching December 2008 elections, has seriously compelled many critics of the party who may have thought that Jeremiah John Rawlings’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) has kicked the bucket to critically examine their thoughts.

Barely two hours after the ceremony, Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, Campaign Coordinator for the NPP’s flagbearer, had to quickly respond to some of the issues raised by Prof. Atta Mills and his running mate John Mahama, with a press conference to respond to some of the issue billed for 12 mid-day today at the National Headquarters of the NPP, Asylum Down, Accra.

The well-attended NDC event was a platform the party used to send signals to its opponents on how the NDC is prepared to ‘wrestle’ the NPP to win back political power in December 2008.

The venue of attraction was the National Theatre, one of the beautiful and magnificent edifices in the country that the main opposition party boast of as a projects executed during the party’s tenure in government from 1982/1993 to 2001.

The auditorium of the theatre was filled to capacity as party faithful dressed in various attires portraying the party’s colours waited anxiously for the two ‘Johns’ to mount the podium amidst cheers, drumming and dancing. There was also display of rich Ghanaian culture following a spectacular poetic recitation that switched the event in full gear, while thousands of followers of the party who could not make it into the auditorium waited outside.

The event, which political pundits claim has raised the standards in this year’s election campaign, saw some party leaders who have either taken backstage positions in the party since the NDC lost power in 2000 or abandoned the party entirely showing up.

When Prof. Mills finally mounted the podium dressed in all white attire with the colours of the NDC around his neck and a white cap to match, the vociferous crowd greeted him with a thunderous cheer.

The ‘Asomdwehene’, as he is affectionately called, formally announced to the assembly; “I have found a running mate in whom I am well pleased” as the minds of the crowd were cast to the ancient biblical assertion by God, proclaiming Jesus as the son in whom He is well pleased.

He hastily took on the NPP, tearing the ruling party into shreds, practically exposing what he saw as the administration’s weaknesses.

According to Prof. Mills, even though the NPP touts itself as the most performing government in the history of this country, it is the worst. He cited corruption and what he described as the ailing Ghanaian economy, as some of the signs that confirm the incompetence of the government.

He also accused the Kufuor-led NPP government of seriously dampening the spirits of the good people of this country by practicing what he termed, politics of polarisation and marginalisation, thereby depriving a sizeable number of the populace their fair share of the national cake.

Prof. Mills, therefore, promised that if given the mandate to rule the Republic, politics of polarization would have no place in the country and he would be a President of the whole country, devoid of marginalization and victimisation.

“I am here to reassure Ghanaians, who are tired of politics as usual, that we are committed to a new type of politics which will foster national unity and a new sense of purpose”, he said, as party followers responded with cheers and chorus of “Atta Mills, You Are the Most High!”

He noted that the agenda of the [new] NDC was for a better Ghana, investing in people, job creation and strong economy, expanding infrastructure and an open and transparent government.

“Our manifesto, which we will soon outdoor, will offer more specifics and Ghanaians will see for themselves how prepared the NDC is to assume the mantle of leadership to serve this country,” the NDC Flagbearer said ,and promised to use the weapon of truth to respond to the challenges of leading the nation, adding; “I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. And I will not regard my election as President as some kind of coronation”.

Prof Mills accused the NPP government of breaking the promise of providing jobs, reduction in the size of Government; reducing the cost of living and pursuing a zero tolerance for corruption, but rather engaging in what he called “profligate expenditure on presidential aircraft; palaces and lavish anniversary celebrations”.

Prof Mills urged Ghanaians to hold the Electoral Commission to the same standards they held it in the run-up to Election 2000 and asked the Electoral Commission to do its duty impartially and not to succumb to any subtle pressures.

He assured that the NDC is now wide awake and will open their eyes much wider in the coming days and weeks, especially when the voters’ register is re-opened and on voting day itself.

“Let the ruling party be in no doubt of the NDC’s strong determination to prevent a repeat of electoral abuses, including abuse of incumbency, which characterized the 2004 elections,” Prof Mills said.

In his acceptance speech the Bole-Bamboi Member of Parliament (MP) was all smiles as he willingly accepted the honour conferred on him by the flagbearer as his running mate.

“I am ready to take up the position you have assigned to me as your running mate and I am ready to take up the responsibility of being your Vice-President come January 2009.” Mr Mahama said shortly after the Flagbearer had formally introduced him at the launch.

“I pledge to you, Professor Mills, before this great assembly that I will work for you and with you, and I will do everything that is in my power to help to make ours a winning team, not only for the NDC but for Ghana to become a better country for all of us”, he further added.

He admitted that the NPP had done its best in the past seven years that they have been in power but, was haste to stress that the government’s best has not been enough in dealing with the multifaceted problems of the Ghanaian society, saying “the tragedy of the NPP is not what they did not achieve but what they could have achieved”.

The calm looking gentleman used the occasion to plead with the chiefs and people of Bawku to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevail in the area in the wake of the recent violent clashes which have led to the death of at least five people.

Mr Mahama said it should dawn on members that the task facing the country required going beyond claims of belief in the country to showing commitment to selfless service and sacrifice, stressing that a lot of hard work is needed to invest in the people, jobs and the economy so as to build a better Ghana in which the nation’s prosperity will not just be for a few but will be for the benefit of all.

He reiterated the need for all contesting political parties to engage in a clean campaign devoid of insults but focused on the daily issues affecting the lives of Ghanaians.