The need to change leadership in the NDC cannot be overemphasized. It may sound disturbing, but no discerning member of the ruling party can pretend to turn a blind eye to the appalling neglect of the party by its own government after it assumed power in 2009.
In politics, and in a democratic dispensation for that matter, it is a political party that makes a government and not a government that makes a party. A government whose party structures are weak, is weak in delivering as a government. In other words, it is a party that has to dictate to its government and not vice versa.
What is happening within the NDC cannot be swept under the carpet if the party hopes to retain power in next year’s elections. Since the Party assumed power in 2009, its affairs have been run from the Castle, instead of being run from the party’s headquarters. Unfortunately the party structures that metaphorically represent its wheels that move steadily to mobilize its members and floating voters to win the elections are no longer functioning as expected.
The activities of the current leadership are not helping the party in any way. What makes it worse is that the President, who is the head of the Party’s political committee, also seems to have turned his back on the party after he assumed the reins of government of the Republic.. He does not seem to recognize the essence of spending time to project the cause of the party and tow its line as manifested in the party’s constitution or manifesto. The President, does not seem to care about what happens to the party after the Party triumphed in the last general elections.
Immediately the NDC by the hard work of its members, supported by the majority of Ghanaians won power, the President by his new dictum “Father for All” formed a clique in the NDC with his Vice, Mr. John Mahama, to declare the party a “ New NDC” and began distancing the party from its objectives and principles in a deliberate attempt to destroy the party. But as once stated by its Founder, the NDC cannot be destroyed.
We should not forget how and why we won the elections, why we stayed in power for 18 years. It was because of our faith and belief in the truth, in justice and in fair play.
However, the story is different this time. It is glaringly obvious that many NDC members and sympathizers who worked hard, with some of them supporting the party with their own money and resources to place it in government, are now disillusioned. The youth, the foot soldiers, the grassroots members and non-card bearing members of the public, who were out there to sacrifice their energies and lives to campaign vigorously for the party, are aggrieved. This has resulted in some party faithful and members of the public losing hope and confidence in the leadership. Some have openly said they would never vote in elections again.
These people are aggrieved because they supported the party and joined its campaign for “A Better Ghana”, and did it without resources from the Headquarters or monies from the so-called Mills campaign team. The people were enthusiastic to bring the party to power, with the expectation that the leadership would put in place measures to make their lives better and ensure that power did not slip away from the party again. They hoped the leadership would strengthen the structures of the party in order to build a greater political party to draw more support and sympathy from the general electorate to enable it retain power in subsequent elections.
Can the President, his Vice and the team at the helm of affairs pretend they are unaware of the laudable contribution the youth/foot soldiers and grass-root members of the party made for them to be where they are now?
Before the 2008 elections and during the campaigns the Mills Campaign team was in constant communication with them. The leadership depended heavily on activists at the grass-roots, calling on them at any time (even at mid night) for help.
In responds, the foot soldiers and grass-root members would even share or give up their beds for these people who are today at the helm of affairs. They organized meals for these leaders, using their own resources. But what have they got in return? Neglect, arrogance, impunity and scorn! As a result, they have become ashamed to be associated with the party.
It is clear that if this state of affairs is not reversed soon, the prospects of the party in the forthcoming elections do not look good, and if the leadership does not change, those who love the party must arise and rescue it from them. This can even include changing the leadership before the next elections.
Ewurabena Dadson
ghanaba2010@gmail.com
