The NDC: After The Death Of Rawlings

As a socialist, I have always seen the NDC party as the best deal in town. To me the NDC party could be likened, to a conglomerate of progressive thoughts and notions, designed to uplift the country. Furthermore, the party's social-democratic ideology appeals to me. I believe that the greatness of a nation, could be measured on how well its citizens, are taking care of. Therefore, the need to satisfy the citizenry, should be the uttermost concern, and priority of any well meaning political party. And besides, what is politics, without its ability to both detect, and solve socio-economic issues? After all, isn't politics supposed to be of the people, by the people and for the people?

A political party's fortune and fame, is destined to wane with time. This is a certainty, which can be guaranteed. However, it's the founding core principles of a political party, which would ensure its relevance through time. Ghana has been fortunate enough, to have seen both the ascension and descension, of various political parties since her independence. Some political parties, rose the pinnacle of political success in their heyday, only to disappear from Ghana's political landscape years later. Indeed, the ever changing and shifting political landscape, leaves nothing on it untouched for long. Then again, change is something inevitable, and nothing can stop it.

Undeniably, the NDC party, is the creation of its founder Jerry John Rawlings, the rebel lieutenant. The man who ousted a democratically elected president, through a coup d'etat, on the 31st of December 1981. It should be emphasized that, whereas the party may have been founded by Rawlings, he doesn't own it. He only serves as its chairman. Now, I've often wondered, if Rawlings could be considered a genuine democrat? Or whether or not, if he truly believed in the ideology of democracy? Because a true democrat, believes in democracy, and the democratic rule of law. In my opinion, a true democrat, doesn't practice a military regime one time, and then turn around and be democratic the next. It's either you're a democrat or not. And if you are not a democrat, then why start a political party and call it NDC, National Democratic Congress? By the way, why did he trade his military uniform for an ideology, which he plainly doesn't support in his heart?

Now, nobody could dispute the fact that, had it not been for the Rawlings factor, the NDC party wouldn't have been re-elected to power. It was Rawlings's fierce campaigning, which made all the difference. As a matter of fact, Rawlings campaigned like, he was seeking re-election for himself. Of course, Prof. Atta Mills did play his part, but Rawlings was the man. He simply stole the show. It seems to me that, either the success or relevance of the NDC party, has always been associated to the Rawlings factor. And now the people are asking, if whether or not, the NDC party would still be popular or even relevant to the electorate, after the death of its founder, Jerry John Rawlings?