Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
During the recent launch of the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress
(NDC), the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made a comment to the effect that it is wrong to say the NDC is the same as the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He stated that, while the NDC built Ghana, the NPP destroyed and it was unfair to say the two parties are the same. To buttress his claim, he sighted the hospitals, schools, harbours, markets, and the schools which were built by the John Dramani Mahama administration as against the demolition of judges’ residents, foreign diplomats’ residents, and the passport office by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration to make way for the construction of the National Cathedral.
Every political party is formed with a specific philosophical and ideological
stance in mind. In this country, we have two major political parties, the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). In
recent times some disappointed citizens of Ghana have alluded that, both
parties are the same, I bet to differ, nay, it is disingenuous to compare the two.
“Two humans are completely different from each other, comparing them is like
insulting nature” (Nitin Namdeo).
There is a vast difference between the NDC and the NPP, acknowledging their
differences are crucial for Ghanaians to engage in constructive dialogues about
the future directions of Ghana’s development and make informed decisions on
December 7, 2024.
It is fair to say that, both parties claim to have the country at heart and have made some contributions to the country's development one way or the other.
But the undisputable truth is that there are some glaring and conspicuous
dissimilarities between these two political parties.
While the NDC’s objective is to improve the lives of Ghanaians and advance
their well-being, the NPP’s common goal is to amass wealth for themselves and
ensure the future of their families and their descendants are financially
secured, because they have a sense of entitlement to Ghana and its resources.
This is a fact, facts are sacred and immutable.
Philosophically, the NDC believes in infrastructural development as a tool for
national development for a developing country as stated (Rostow, 1969),
they, therefore, embark on infrastructural revolutions such as building hospitals, health centres, clinics, schools, and expansion of social amenities to the rural communities to impact the lives of those communities, which is a precondition to growth in a developing country. The sustainability of this country is hinged on the initiatives of the NDC in introducing, GETFund, Ghana Free Zone Authority, VAT, Ghana investment Promotion Centre, Exim Bank, The Accra Digital Centre, etc. without which this country will grind to a halt.
In terms of education, the NDC has built more universities, polytechnics,
training colleges, and secondary schools than any government in the history of
this country. The NDC has built more hospitals embarked on rural
electrifications, and built markets and roads than any other government.
The NPP on the other hand does not believe in inclusivity, they are a class-oriented organisation. Prominence is given to lineage and roots in the party.
They place those without lineage and roots in the party on the periphery,
explore them to the party’s benefit and not to the country’s benefit.
The election of Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia as the presidential candidate for the
NPP must not deceive us to believe the party is an inclusive party, it is a
subterfuge executed to cleanse the party of an albatross of being tagged as an
ethnocentric party, and it was only done to serve the party’s interest not for
national development.
Respectfully, the NPP can be likened to the Ndragheta Mafia group, the world’s
most dangerous mafia group, (yes Ndragheta, not the Sicily mafia is the most
dangerous mafia group), where membership is by lineage and root, anyone
else outside the lineage accepted to join the Ndragheta group is considered as
a “contributor of convenience” and not a member. I am not saying the NPP is a
mafia group, but their ideology and philosophical modus operandi for
membership are the same. In the NPP you have to be a “descendant” of Dankwa
or Busia to be a member, any other person is a “contributor of convenience”.
They often add Dombo, but in reality “descendants” of Dombo are not
considered members of the NPP but “contributors of convenience”.
The NPP claimed that their ideology is a property-owning democracy. This is a
a social system whereby state institutions enable a fair distribution of
productive property among the general citizenry, rather than allowing
monopolies to form and dominate. It ensures that individuals have a fair and
equal opportunity to participate in the market.
Realistically, the NPP’s version of property-owning democracy is about using
its power and influence to amass wealth to the detriment of the citizenry.
The PDS scandal, the Agyapa deal, the cash-for-seat scandal, the disappearance of excavators, and the wanton capture of state lands are some of the few
examples of the NPP’s understanding of property-owning democracy.
In a nutshell, the NDC builds Ghana while the NPP builds the party and their
families to the detriment of the citizenry. Hon Ablakwa is spot on, we should
desist from comparing the NPP to the NDC, it is a sacrilege, abomination, and
an unforgivable political debauchery.
Going into the 2024 general elections, let’s reflect dispassionately and without
prejudice on the merits of quality leadership to make decisions that
have the propensity to either facilitate or retard the socio-economic growth of
this country. The future of our children, our well-being, and our welfare are at stake.
Logical decisions have consequences, and so do emotional decisions. Let us make
logical decisions by voting for the NDC on December 7, 2024. The power of
choosing between good and evil is within the reach of all.
