PNC is ten years

The People’s National Convention, easily the third most consistent political party in the West African country of Ghana after the ruling New Patriotic Party and the minority National Democratic Congress, turned 10 years yesterday, May 29.

The PNC issued a press release in commemoration of the tenth anniversary. We publish below, the full statement.

There is an old adage, which says that when a hen picks a bone, the dog should not chase it. It should be patient, for the hen has no teeth to chew it and will definitely leave it for the dog to pick.

Sometimes the impatience of the dog is understandable for even if the hen cannot chew the bone, it may soil it. This aptly describes the Ghanaian political situation preceding the lifting of the ban on political activities in 1992.

Before the ban on political activities was lifted by the PNDC, many political movements were formed but operating under the guise of clubs: viz the Busia-Danquah, the Movement for Freedom and Justice, the Kwame Nkrumah Welfare, the People's Heritage and National Co?ordinating Committee of Nkrumaist (NCCN). The Nkrumah Welfare and People's Heritage were Nkrumaist inclined. The National Co?ordinating Committee of Nkrumaist (NCCN) claimed same but it was soon to be found out that the PNDC had a hand in its formation, hence its name the "Nkawkaw Train".

On the 20th of May, 1992 the last elected leader of the Nkruinaist Tradition and President of the Third Republic, His Excellency Dr Hilla Limann, of blessed memory, launched a political party named the People's National Convention (PNC), with the Coconut tree ?as its symbol, Service with Honesty as its motto and ‘Eye Kube’ as its slogan. The birthplace of the party was the modest home of the founder at Teshic Nungua Estates, a suburb of Accra.

The aim was to ensure the revival and continuity of the Nkrumaist tradition and to create a political platform that would provide sincere and honest National leadership and to help develop a genuine democratic culture in Ghana.

Other parties also mushroomed claiming ancestry to and headship of the Nkrumalst tradition. Little did they know that their foundations were too feeble to withstand the turbulent Ghanaian political storm. They kept on changing names and colours, election after election and have since lost their traces. A child may be named after an ancestor but he or she does not become automatic head of family. Family headship is by orderly succession.

The first National Delegates Congress of the party was held at Baden Powell Hall, Accra in 1992 and Dr Hilla Limann the founder was, elected as leader and Presidential Candidate. The party contested the 1992 presidential elections and lost but in collaboration with other opposition parties boycotted the parliamentary elections, claiming rigging by the NDC led by J. J. Rawlings.

After vigorous re?organisation, the party held its 2nd National Delegates Congress in 1996 at Legon. Dr Edward Mahama, a medical practitioner emerged as Presidential Candidate. Dr Hilla Limann, the founder however, retained the leader and chairmanship positions. The party contested the 1996 Presidential and parliamentary elections. Dr Edward Mahama and the other presidential candidates lost to the incumbent J.J. Rawlings. The party however, won one parliamentary seat.

Dr Hilla Limann, the founder died on 2nd January 1998. The shock of his untimely demise and its effect on the party can best be imagined than expressed in words.

Again, the party determined to re?organise itself, held its 3rd National Delegates Congress at Kumasi in 1998. Dr Edward Mahama emerged leader and Presidential Candidate. Under his able leadership, the party chalked a number of successes. That it even still exists is no mean feat giving the hostile environment within which opposition parties operate in Ghana.

Unfortunately, after the death of the leader, the ongoing Nkrumaist Unity talks which he initiated collapsed and PNC lost some of its executives. We take this opportunity of the 10th anniversary to invite them to return to the party they helped to found.

The party participated in the 2000 Presidential and parliamentary elections. Dr Edward Mahama came third among a field of seven Presidential Candidates but there was a 2nd run?off. The party threw its weight behind the NPP. That single act broke the back of tile NDC and Mr. J A. Kufuor of the NPP won. The party however, won three parliamentary seats. The party also contested three by?elections; Ablekuma Central, Lambushie and Bimbilla.

At its inception many were the skeptics who thought the party would not see the light of day. Events as narrated above have proven them wrong.

P.N.C is a centre-left party. From that position it differs from the NPP in certain policy situations such as the divestiture programme and water privatization. Whereas the PNC is against the privatization of water, the NPP is all for it.

Against public protestation the water privatisation programme of the NPP is being pursued with uncompromising zeal. Electricity and water tariffs are likely to go up threefold. Yet there is no corresponding increase in workers renumeration. The nation is so donor?dependent that we do not think of doing anything by ourselves. Prices of farm inputs are beyond the reach of our farmers and fisher folk yet the NPP government frowns at any form of subsidy even though President Bush has increased subsidies to American farmers by as much as $190 billion.

As for unemployment, the least said about it the better. It can be seen that the character of the elephant is beginning to unfold and it is only a matter of time for it to be shown the way to the bush where it belongs.

As for the Cockerel its haste to dine with the elephant has rendered it incapable of crowing to give Ghanaians the wake?up call to National duty.

Happily, it is beginning to dawn on Ghanaians that the PNC is the party to watch. Even its adversaries can attest to that. Unlike other political parties, PNC promises Ghanaians that it is a party that is sensitive to their woes and would pursue policies that would allow Ghanaians to capture the commanding heights of the Ghanaian economy.

On this occasion of the 10th anniversary, we invite all Ghanaians who are willing to provide sincere, honest and selfless stewardship to Mother Ghana to step forward and join the PNC.

It is with a profound sense of honour and satisfaction that we issue this press release to our teeming supporters, sympathizers and Ghanaians in general, to commemorate this occasion.

LONG LIVE PNC LONG LIVE GHANA