Binduri, the only elephant in Upper East and why NDC is struggling to cover it with the umbrella

Binduri constituency is one of the 15 parliamentary seats in the upper region of Ghana. It is also one of the 6 Kusaug constituencies. In the 2020 election, the majority of Ghanaians were shocked to hear on election night that Hon. Abdullai Abanga of the NPP had defeated the incumbent NDC MP, Dr. Robert Kuganab Lem, to win the parliamentary election, while Nana Akuffo Addo had attained more than 10,000 votes in the presidential election.

Following the defeat, the NDC immediately suspended some party executives whom they blamed for orchestrating the defeat of the NDC’s parliamentary candidate in 2020. However, Dr Robert Kuganab Lem was once again defeated in the NDC parliamentary primaries in 2022 by a new entrant in Binduri NDC Politics, Lawyer Issifu Mahmoud. Fast forward to 2024, and the party has reinstated all suspended executives and is hoping to get everybody on board to snatch their seats back from the NPP.

Hon. Abdullai Abanga and the NPP's growing presence and investment in Binduri.

Historically, Binduri has been a bastion of NDC support, as evidenced by the substantial votes garnered since 1996. However, the continuous appreciation in votes of the NPP in both presidential and parliamentary elections shows a trend of rising NPP influence. This shift raises questions about the strategies being employed and the changing dynamics within the constituency. The tables below show the results of both the NPP and the NDC from 1996 to date.

What has the NPP been doing differently in Binduri for the past few years that makes it more likely that their vote percentage will rise again in the 2024 election? The below factors cannot be pushed aside when looking for reasons that influence the percentage of NPP votes in the impending elections.

Direct Benefits: Unlike the NDC when in power, where a few greedy families hijack Binduri and bang their hopes on the fact that Binduri is an NDC stronghold. The NPP has done so well at making sure a lot of people and families benefit directly from their governance. This has been a motivation for some youth who claim it's far easier for them to be close to the cake when they join the NPP.

Hon. Abdullai Abanga’s Strategies: Some argue that he has benefited from the fact that he is the only NPP MP in the Upper East Region, which cannot be contested. But he has raised the marking scheme by which MPs will be graded in Binduri. Talk about the recruitment of the Binduri youth into government institutions, and you will see Hon. Abanga's footprints there. Talk about scholarships for Binduri students, and I am very sure no MP in Binduri has achieved more than Abanga.

He has bought a borehole drilling rig and is providing potable water for Binduri constituents at a faster rate than any former MP of Binduri. Yes, Hon. Abanga is doing all he can to convince the people of Binduri to keep believing in him and the NPP.

Human Resource Development: Narrowing it down to Binduri, you will realize that the NPP is investing in the human resource development of their party members to the admiration of the youth.

NDC’s Uneasy Calm and Tendency for Last-Minute Minute-Surprises:

The NDC constituency executives present a facade of unity, but beneath this surface, there are significant internal divisions. These divisions manifest as distinct camps within the party, from the branch level up to the constituency level. Each camp is aligned with different influential personalities, leading to internal conflicts and a lack of cohesive strategy.

The party members that were suspended after the 2020 election defeat returned to help Lawyer Issifu Mahmoud defeat Dr Kuganab Lem and some of them have already shown their dedication to work hard for NDC to snatch back the seat from NPP. The question now is: having suffered a primary defeat mainly orchestrated by those who were alleged to have masterminded his defeat in the 2020 election, how will Dr. Kuganab Lem and his close allies handle this situation? This is a question that is left for them to answer but anybody who wants to know how

They should not just listen to their words or appearances at high-profile events but pay close attention to their attitude and commitment towards the groundwork.

Will the rest of those that were suspended after the 2020 defeat come on board? Addressing these internal issues is essential for strengthening NDC’s overall organizational health and effectiveness in Binduri.

The Inactions of Former NDC Appointees and Regional Influence:

“Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop.” There are names within the Binduri NDC who are patiently hiding and pretending to be working while hoping that the party will win, and they will jump to the front lobbying for appointments. These members and former appointees only make appearances during high-profile visits to the constituency. After these visits, they retreat into inactivity, leaving the groundwork to others.

There is growing frustration within the NDC regarding commitments to the activities of the party by former appointees and those who have significantly benefited through contracts and other benefits. And those who are regarded by many as being the financiers of the party in the constituency have all gone into hiding.

This was particularly evident during the recent fundraising dinner held in Bolgatanga by the NDC flagbearer, where many of these individuals were conspicuously absent or refused to pledge donations. Nobody promised any form of support for Binduri during the dinner.

Too often, those who have not contributed meaningfully are the ones seeking to benefit from the party's success. The NDC must ditch these Binduri Baboons and invest in selfless individuals who demonstrate genuine commitment to the party's values and goals. Such are the individuals who will actively contribute to the party's progress and help secure its future victories. By focusing on rewarding and supporting these dedicated members, the NDC can build a stronger, more resilient organization that thrives on collective effort and shared success.

Lastly, the growing personal interest of some NDC regional executives in Binduri is a contributing factor to the current challenges. From family ties to personal relations, the regional executives have shown that they have some favorites in Binduri, and with each opportunity they get, they try to showcase their favorites while undermining those who they see as competitors for their favorites, and these are mostly the actual people doing the groundwork for the party.

NDC’s Very Low Number of National Appointees from Binduri:

Take out the names of Hon. Lucy Awuni and Hon. Dr. Kuganaab-Lem, who were appointed as deputy regional ministers in 2009 and 2014, respectively, and you will not have any names to show for all the NDC's years of governance. The NPP has beaten the NDC to it in their eight years, where Binduri has gotten an ambassador, regional minister, deputy works and housing minister, and presidential staffers, among others. This shows how poorly the NDC has regarded its members in Binduri based on their loyalty to the party. This lack of appointments puts all the pressure on the NDC MP and sets the stage for them to fail. Binduri should be given their fair share of appointments in the next NDC government if they want to curtail the rise of the NPP in Binduri.

Who Will Win Election 2024?

Election 2024 is a close contest, and yes, the Bawku tribal conflict will go a long way toward reducing the fortunes of the NPP. However, it is an election to be determined by either loyalty to the NDC or betrayal of the NDC. If the NDC is able to stay united and avoid last-minute betrayals, then they can win this election massively in Binduri.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I believe the Bawku tribal conflict, for which many in the Kusaug traditional area are blaming the NPP for being complicit, and the tribal lineage of their flagbearer to one of the factions will give the NDC an opportunity to curtail the gains being made by the NPP in Binduri Constituency, but how long will that gain last?

If the NDC wants to cover the people of Binduri with its umbrella, then it’s important that they stay united, reward loyalty and hard work, and avoid the surrogates who are pretending to be working for the party. The NDC must also identify and invest in selfless and dedicated individuals who have distinguished themselves and are working hard for the party.

Party leadership should watch the regional executives closely when it comes to making decisions regarding Binduri, since a lot of them have personal interests in the Binduri situation.

Together, as a unified Binduri NDC, you can achieve a resounding victory in this year's elections and many more yet to come.