"NDC At The Precipice" -

“NDC AT THE PRECIPICE”—LAST

OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE AND UNITY….By:

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah

Last week, the NDC opened nominations at its Party headquarters for

all qualified members of the Party who wish to lead the Party towards

the next election. Today, 10th May, is the last day for all interested

and qualified members to pick up nomination forms for that contest.

Whoever is elected as party leader at the NDC Congress will represent

the Party at the 2012 elections. If that individual and the NDC prevail

against the NPP, that NDC leader will become the next President of

Ghana. The first person to pick up a nomination form was Nana Konadu

Agyeman Rawlings, until recently one of my fellow Vice Chairmen of the

Party. President J.E.A Mills, the President of Ghana and leader of the

NDC, has also understandably picked a form.

Because I was a

candidate in the NDC leadership race of December 2006, many Ghanaians,

especially NDC members, have naturally enquired about my plans regarding

this new opportunity to seek the leadership position of the Party. Many

commentators have said that the mere fact that anyone in the NDC should

wish to pick nominations forms when the party is in power and we have a

sitting President, means that all is not well in the Party. Other media

analysts have even wondered why the NDC has not managed its internal

affairs in such a way that no one needs to contest a sitting

President.Against this background, those members of the NDC and others

who consider themselves as “Friends of Spio-Garbrah” and members of

“Spio-Garbrah Fan Clubs” have called me and sent me various

messages from around the country. Some of them have encouraged me to

stay “neutral” by not contesting at all. Others have urged me to throw

my weight and those of my supporters behind one of the two prospective

candidates. Yet others urge that I file my nomination in order to

demonstrate my continuing interest in leading the NDC and the good

people of Ghana someday. It has been a period for deep reflection,

prayer and consultation. In the words of some, if my father and my

mother are going through a “political divorce” it is better not to get

involved or to support one side against the other. Other supporters,

however, have stated that I need to go beyond simply staying neutral in

these divorce proceedings, and have encouraged me to continue to pursue

the “Peacemaking and Unity” in the NDC that I begun some weeks ago.

This

is why appeals must continue to be made to all right thinking members

of the NDC, especially the Founding Fathers, the Council of Elders, The

President and Leader, the National Secretariat, and specific individuals

whose voices carry weight within the Party to strive for a negotiated

resolution of the current crisis before open warfare is declared. What

would be the point of winning an internal NDC battle only to lose the

more important war at a national election? It may be recalled that in

2006, a similar attempt at fend-mending was planned between those

supporting my campaign and Prof J.E. A. Mills, but this was eventually

scuttled, leading to long-term adverse effects.

If

current trends in the party continue, the NDC baby may end up being cut

in two at and after July 10, 2011. But like the true mother in the

Solomonic story of two women contesting over the motherhood/ownership of

a baby in First Kings, Ch. 3, the major claimants to the NDC’s future

must agree to keep and own one united NDC family after the July Congress

than to take pieces of a divided baby.

Whether I

pick up a nomination form or not today, 10th May, 2011, the last day for

picking up a form, will depend on my view of whether peace and unity in

the NDC are more possible with me in the race or with me outside the

race. So, peace-making in the NDC is still my objective and it is better

late than never. President Rawlings, Nana Konadu Rawlings and President

Mills and their supporters should be able to accommodate themselves

under the large NDC “Akatamanso”, and if I need to become a candidate in

order to have the leverage to help them to do so, then may God Help Us

All.The NDC must win the 2012 elections, but it must NOT destroy itself in the

process of doing so.

Whether I pick up a nomination form today, 10th

May, 2011, the last day for picking up a form, will depend on my view of

whether I reach the conclusion that peace in the NDC is more possible with me

in the race or with me outside the race. So, peace-making in the NDC is still my

objective and better late than never. President Rawlings, Nana Konadu Rawlings

and President Mills and their supporters should be able to accommodate themselves

under the large NDC “Akatamanso”, and if I need to become a candidate to help

them to do so, then may God Help Us All.

The NDC must win the 2012 elections, but it must NOT destroy itself in the process

of doing so.

Long

Live the President of Ghana!

Long

Live the Founder of the NDC!

Long

Live the NDC Family!

Long

Live Ghana!

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah's Fan Club"

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