Crises in NDC as Activists call for Positive Defiance

I am blinded by tears and my heart is heavy with sadness. I am writing at a time where the youth activists of National Democratic Congress are engaged in latent battle to avert intra-party greed and deny some 'greedy bastards' access to power.

The NDC was founded based on social democratic principles to uphold social justice and develop a state that served as a true umbrella for the people of Ghana.

The NDC is a direct descendant of June 4th 1979 and 31st December 1981- two stages in the life of this country that led to the development of a sense of nationalism and devolvement of people’s power never before witnessed in Ghana.

The re-election of NDC to power in 2009 was as a result of the people’s believe in the NDC as having the capability to clean the rot that had engulfed the social fabric of the country after the NPP had virtually taken the country as its private property and dissipated our natural resources in a wanton abuse of power that virtually brought Ghana’s economy on it’s knees.

It is therefore sad that 15months after the better Ghana agenda, attrition among rank and file of the party based on a mixture of concerns has reached a crescendo.

We have all been witnesses to the terrible abuse of power by some government appointees including deputy ministers, MCE’s, DCE’s.

We have also seen the growing level of insecurity and violence all over the country by activists who believe their leaders are not doing enough to protect their interest.

The NDC rank and file who helped bring the Mills Administration to power are asking for jobs and empowerment.

After being starved for jobs, incomes and other business opportunities by NPP government for some 8 years, the NDC activists can no longer wait.

And their impatience has been further worsened by some of the government appointees who had little to do with the NDC’s electoral victory but are amongst those reaping the rewards.

The activists who toiled and worked hard for the party’s electoral victory are calling for the head of these appointees who they believe are making the party unpopular.

I would not play the ostrich nor would I ascertain that, the current development is good for our infant democracy. It is affront to good governance and it must be condemned in no uncertain terms.

As a matter of fact, I cherish civil freedom above everything else in this country and that is why I am deeply worried over the current development

The NDC activists have every right under the constitution of the republic of Ghana to call for positive defiance but it must be done within the parameters of common sense, logic, law and order. They must exercise restraint and demonstrate civility in their quest to register their displeasure.

Infant, those who identify with the ideals of the NDC recognizes that, it was borne out of a quest for people’s power and a desire to involve the people in national development. The strength of the NDC always lies in the ability to protect its people from the savagery of capitalism. Sadly, the umbrella cannot protect its own and are rather introducing elitism into the party.

There is growing disparity between the sense of urgency of the millions of party supporters who feel neglected and marginalized and the government functionaries.

The ordinary members of the NDC whose toil brought the party to power are being spat upon by a few ‘greedy bastards’ by their shameful demonstration of interest in amassing wealth. The existential difficulties confronting our nation do not warrant such crass display of opulence and extravagance amidst object poverty and depravity.

What some these functionaries are doing is perilous, criminal and rotten precedence which is completely alien to the NDC.

I can understand the frustration of the foot soldiers. Should they be quiet when the party is losing ground publicly, Just so that they can claim to be loyal? What are they to be loyal to, their imminent downfall?

Should the NDC members stay quietly on the sidelines even if they can see that if matters continue as they are, they will lose power in 2012? Is it because many of the office holders today don’t know where they are coming from that they can’t appreciate the concerns of the foot soldiers?

Do most appointees realize that a gulf is widening between them and the party faithful’s?

The root cause of this civil disobedience we are witnessing all over the country is as a result of uninspired appointment which is producing uninspired results.

When you appoint DCE or MCE who is unknown to the foot soldiers, this can be the result.

The President must as a matter of urgency call some of his appointees to order for the sake of party unity otherwise it is inevitable that we shall continue to witness the reprisal attack on those abusing their office for personal gain.

Did I hear some misguided elements in government are trying to establish a link between Jerry Rawlings and the actions of the youths?

It will be foolhardy and plain nonsensical for any rational being to assume that Jerry Rawlings is behind the ragging attacks.

The very people creating the mess are conveniently looking for scapegoat. Here everyone has discovered that scapegoat come much cheaper than owing up to inefficiency and it makes you so mad, you want to bite off your own head in exasperation.

All of a sudden, groups have emerged in the NDC. These groups comprise people of all sorts; influential, not so influential, praise singers, ego masseurs, mischief makers, liars, plain thieves and yes saboteurs.

Some of these people are quick to attack and insult anyone who dares offer constructive criticism of the Mills administration. And they believe in the fallacy that Rawlings is no longer relevant to the NDC. What a crushing ignorance?

Those around the president who believe Rawlings is no longer a factor in the NDC must stand up to be counted or forever hold their peace.

There can be only one camp in the NDC and that is the founder’s camp because the NDC party is one big family without any factions. Those who want to create mills camp must come to terms with this basic fact or must leave the party with their dishonesty and treachery.

To those praise singers who believe that they can transition overnight from being a mere tramps yesterday into political celebrities on accounts of being praise poets and repository of flattery will not escape the wrath of the party foot soldiers.

The President must be weary of these political vultures and sycophants masquerading as loyalists who will do anything and everything in their interest to win his personal support for personal enrichment.

The foot soldiers must also understand that we are governed by laws and institutions. If they are convinced that they have legitimate concerns, they should channel their grievances through the appropriate party structures for redress.

They cannot hold the entire country to ransom in a bid to demand what is their right. They must know that, their right ends where others begins.

The Police service must also crack the whip where necessary. They must show serious commitment to punish those responsible for violence attack on innocent people.

We cannot institutionalized and democratize violence to detriment of nationhood.

I rest my case.

Emmanuel Dela Coffie The writer is student Journalist an a blogger. He welcome your comments via emmanuelcoffie488@yahoo.com/ www.delacoffie.wordpress.com