NDC Power Blocs, Manipulation And Parliamentary Primaries

The New National Democrat has on a few occasions taken issues with some influential members of the National Democratic Congress’ hierarchy for openly taking sides in the on-going parliamentary primaries. We have been receiving complaints from some of the aspirants about the abuse of power and influence by some of these men to impose their favourites on the constituents. Our investigations have confirmed some of the complaints while some have been found to be untrue.

In a competitive arena of politics, there are bound to be accusations and counter-accusations. We are fully aware of the vile propaganda by some of the aspirants to blame others for their own inadequacies. On the other hand, it is equally true that some of the leading members of the NDC are embroiled in manipulative practices to get their so-called favourites elected as parliamentary candidates. They are free to do so in a democratic party such as the NDC. However, this has to be done in conformity with the rules and regulations governing the NDC and more importantly, the NDC constitution. The New National Democrat is concerned about the direct involvement of very top members of the party in creating divisions in some of the constituencies. There is no doubt that tension is mounting in some of the constituencies with the aspirants fuming over the complicity of very powerful figures in the NDC to derail their ambitions for their parochial interests. A parliamentary aspirant has complained to our office that a very senior member in the NDC has turned his house into a meeting venue against his opponent in the parliamentary contest. While these meetings were supposed to be ward and branch meetings, it turned out that this senior member has been convening meetings ostensibly to canvass support for their “Romeo”.

Some of the potential delegates, that is the branch and ward executives, were reportedly said to have stood up to this leading member and signaled their unwillingness to continue attending meetings at his residence. In another instance, another leading member who is also a 31st December Women's executive has been reported to be going round urging delegates to vote for a particular aspirant because they stand to benefit financially from his choice. Our understanding is that the father of the aspirant is touted as one of the bankrollers of the NDC, therefore his son must be given the chance to be the parliamentary candidate by hook or crook.

It is worrying and dangerous for the NDC, a party built on the toil of the cadres, working classes including farmers, fishermen and market women, to turn its back on the very principles which makes it attractive to the down-trodden in our society. The message the few leading members tend to drive home is that the Social Democratic ideology of the NDC is being mortgaged for the highest bidder. It does not make sense to us that because somebody provides financial support to the party his, son must be treated like an egg and given all the preference over his opponent.

We are constrained to put all the information from specific constituencies in the public domain. In some of the constituencies, the constituency executives have been openly campaigning for their preferred aspirants. This is building tension and creating cracks within the NDC. Political patronage which ruined the NDC in 2000 is fast repossessing the greater part of the party because most of the opportunists are seeing the signs of NDC victory on the wall. At the vetting sessions, we have conclusive evidence of a Regional Chairman, who engaged an aspirant in a heated argument accusing the aspirant of having lost the 2004 parliamentary election and still pushing to contest instead of stepping aside. This is complete rubbish and at best an infantile argument. This Chairman, the New National Democrat can reveal is part of the hypocrites and conspirators prepared to lie down for one of the aspirants to step on them because the father is rich and supports the NDC with funds.

The NDC is known to preach continuity and offers candidates they believe are men and women of substance the second opportunity. Complaints before us and the quality of the candidates being worked against, indicate they relate better and enjoy substantial following from the constituents than those being touted under the guise of wealth.

For those applying the 2004 parliamentary defeat argument of some of the parliamentary candidates to the decision to deny them another chance through disqualification at the vetting committee, need to tread cautiously. The venerated Prof. Atta Mills lost in 2000 and 2004 in questionable circumstances but the good people of the NDC still retained him because they know he possesses sterling qualities to succeed after those false starts. We are amazed that a Regional Chairman of the NDC asked such a question. There are many in Parliament who also lost previous contests but bounced back to win their constituencies. In the recent parliamentary primaries, a lot of the aspirants are those who have contested on the party ticket and lost.

The New National Democrat has learnt that while the preferred aspirant is not even a registered voter or a member of the NDC, these questions were skipped. He was asked to tell the vetting committee what plans he has for running the campaign successfully to wrest the seat from the NPP in that particular constituency. What a charade! If the so-called influential party lights want to return to the age of imposition they should tell the rank and file. There are some in the party whose know-it-all attitude caused the party the previous general elections. If they have not learnt any lessons in the last eight years, then something fundamentally is wrong with their appreciation of democratic politics.

There is no doubt that most peace-loving Ghanaians have been condemnatory of the high spate of violence in the NPP. Their chaotic parliamentary primaries has become a disgrace to the most extremist and fanatical supporter. In the case of the NDC, these ugly and animalistic actions by the NPP have been avoided. However, the NDC has to be mindful of the sheer use of power and influence stemmed in nepotism and fraternity to push some favourites. It could fracture the party's united front or weaken the bubbling spirit of the foot-soldiers. Our advice to the leading members, who have suddenly turned arrogant, is that they must stop deluding themselves that power has already being placed in our lap. There are more rivers and mountains to cross and climb to attain the ultimate. It is therefore essential for them to look over their shoulders before taking such irrational decisions by exploiting their position, power and influence to deny equally good materials the opportunity to serve the party. The New National Democrat believes that lessons have been learnt from the eight years in opposition. Those who are already flexing muscles and peddling influence ought to be guided by history. The mood in the country is one of anger and depression.

The NDC stands on the threshold to redeem the people from their suffering. But before the people of Ghana give their votes to the NDC, they must feel secure that the very sins of the NPP would not be repeated. This is why it is incumbent on the NDC hierarchy to steer totally clear of trouble and avoid using their power and influence capriciously.