NRC Revelations To Seal NDC's Doom

The New Patriotic Party’s firebrand politician, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe says the fate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has not only been paralyzed but has been sealed by the horrifying revelations that are emanating from the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC).

He said the track record of the NPP, that is winning all the by-elections in the country, has sent cold shivers down the spine of the NDC to the extent that its slogan “Ehe Edzor Bordoor” has given the NPP the impetus to win the two up-coming by-elections and the 2004 general elections.

Reacting to allegations that his party is bent on vote-buying and bribery, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe told Chronicle in an interview that it was unfortunate for a pot to call the kettle black, describing the NDC as “Ehe Edzor Bordoor Agbene” meaning the NDC is now soft as ever before, so the NPP is riding over them.

According to Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, the recent delegates’ congress held by the NDC at the University of Ghana, Legon, at which Dr. Obed Asamoah, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey and his cohorts were thrashed, underscored the fact that there was no way that the NDC could come back to power in this country.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, who is cock-sure of triumphing in the remaining two by-elections said, “ The NDC is not a political party. The NDC is just like any military government that is legalized into a political party, and they want to have recognition of that group,” contending that history has shown that all the military regimes which have been transformed into parties have never been successful in a democratic dispensation.

He added that a military government that has been transformed into a political party does not understand the rule of democratic principles.

Unfolding his anchor of confidence of winning, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe had this to say: “We are really on the ground with our people working well to ensure that we retain the seats. We take by-elections very seriously, we never for once or a minute, rest on our oars, or be complacent because to us, as a party, by-elections are nothing than mid term examinations during which you test your strength and your policies and if the policies of the ruling party are unacceptable to the electorate, it is quite clear that you will definitely lose the election. In other words, if the policies of the opposing parties are not convincing, there is no way that they can win an election, let alone a by-election”, he said.

Stressing his confidence, the veteran politician said the seat of Bimbilla, which had once been held by the NDC was taken from them. The seats of Kumawu and Wulensi were also taken, saying these indicate that the people have accepted the policies and the philosophies of the party.

Recounting some other by-elections, he said in 1998 the Ablekuma Central seat was snatched from the NDC even though they were in opposition, having a hectic battle with the NDC with all their logistics at their disposals, managed with intensive campaign won the seat where he himself championed the course.

The leading member of the party called on the electorate to vote for the right candidate on the basis of issue, but not on material gifts. He said material gifts in the history of every political party to influence the electorate, indicate that it can never be sustained in future.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, who is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Clinic, found it amazing that Ghanaians have acknowledged the NPP party as a better alternative to the NDC and other satellite political parties.

“The people of this country are not fools; particularly the rural folks for someone to think they can easily be bought with few schnapps and thousands of cedis which has been the phenomenon of the NDC,” he said, alleging that the NDC displayed this malpractice in Odododiodio constituency with NDC insignia on schnapps right from the factory and distributed it to the electorate and also added monies to influence them.

According to him, at a point in time, he encouraged the electorate to collect the drinks and use it to pour libation for the defeat of the NDC.

The strong member rubbished the allegations of exploitation of incumbency perpetrated by the NPP, saying it was rather unfortunate for the pot to continue calling the kettle black.