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Opinions of Monday, 22 December 2014

Columnist: The Crystal Clear Lens

The NDC Delegates And The Mahama Gov't.

The 8th Special National Delegates Congress of the Ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has come and gone peacefully with a new team of the party emerging.

The new team is headed by Kofi Portuphy, as the new National Chairman, who would run the affairs of the party for the next 4 years.

The delegates have spoken loud and clear by electing a new team of the NDC after a well competitive election. This means that the party is poised for real action and they would leave no stone unturned until the victory of the 2016 presidential and parliamentary general elections is attained.

Other new faces in the NDC team included Korku Anyidoho, Deputy General Secretary and Kofi Adams, National Organiser; The National Vice Chairmen are Ofosu Ampofo, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Anita De-Sosoo, Leeo Ocran, Alhaji Said Sinare and Harry Zakor.

The choices of the delegates have sent a warning signal to the leaders of the various factions in the NDC that the continuous dreadful turf war must cease. They must unite to work for the interest of the foot-soldiers of the party and Ghanaians at large.

Even the old National Executives of the party who retained their positions by slim margin must understand now that the large supporters and sympathizers of the party who voted them to power want them to work hard in the interest of the people.

In fact, the singular action of the delegates of the NDC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, the regional capital of the Ashanti Region on Saturday, have demonstrated that they are highly sensitive to the feelings of the ordinary man and woman on street in the country than the so-called leaders in the party, whose insatiable quest for wealth and power is boundless.

Indeed, the delegates have satisfied the desire of the leaders of the factions in the party, and that they are urging them to work as a team so that the NDC and the government will work to the benefit of the ordinary Ghanaians.

The wind of change that is blowing through the NDC has led to serious casualties. It all started at the NDC National Youth Conference in Kumasi, where the former National Youth Organiser, Ludwig Hlodze, lost to a vibrant Sidii Abubakar from Upper East Region of Ghana.

Unfortunately, the wind of change also affected Dr. Kwebena Adjei, who is politically called 'Woyo Woyo', 'Biakoye Terminator 1' in the Volta Region. He is now the former Chairman of the NDC after his third bid to seek reelection. He was roundly beaten by Kofi Portuphy, who was his Vice.

The wind of change also affected Yaw Boateng Gyan heavily. He is now former National Organiser. Kofi Adams is now in his shoes with lots of energy after dropping his initial intention to faceoff with the Baobab Tree, Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, who enjoyed himself throughout the elections, to retain his seat comfortably as the National General Secretary of the NDC.

The wind of change did not hit hard the National Propaganda Wing, now the Communications Secretariats of the NDC. The Deputy National Propaganda Secretary of the party, Solomon Nkansan, who until the congress, was acting, escaped narrowly to be confirmed as the new and first ever Communication Officer of the party.

Kobby Agbeli Fiagbe, Managing Editor of the Ghanaian Lens newspaper, who joined the race very late to challenge Solomon Nkansah, was very impressive at the polls.

Now, the Special Delegates Congress has come and gone, experiencing serious wind of change. The next step ahead of the NDC before the 2016 general elections is the flag bearership of the party.

Many are the curious party members who are asking whether the wind of change that has caused a sound defeat of emotions and tears at the congress will affect the flag bearership race of the NDC?

Seriously, there is endless web of rumours in the NDC, spreading fast across the country and even beyond that President John Dramani Mahama would face stiff opposition when it comes to their intra-party politics for the choice of presidential candidate to lead the NDC in 2016.

Admittedly, some party bigwigs and supporters commended President Mahama for continuing what the NDC does best. That is the huge infrastructure development agenda.

But, they also questioned the President's economic policies of the country. According to them, the party has become unpopular in the past months because the government spent a considerable time to halt galloping depreciation of the cedi, which has affected the livelihood of Ghanaians, including the foot-soldiers of the NDC.

On the unity of the NDC, various speakers at the Congress emphasized the need to unite the party. For the first time at the party function, Former President Jerry John Rawlings and the Founder of the party spoke publicly about the return of his dear wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang- Rawlings to the party.

He urged the party to bring back the former first lady and President of the 31st December Women's Movement, who is now the founder of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

President Rawlings appeal touched the hearts of many supporters and sympathizer at the grassroots and they welcome the good news.

But, the question is that, is the element of vehement disagreement leading to hatred by the party gurus at the apex of the NDC resolved?

When two elephants are fighting it is the grass that suffers. The NDC and its ordinary members and Ghanaians at large have suffered the greediness of some wicked party members.

Due to the needless infighting within the NDC President Mahama could not consult widely on his appointment for key positions of state so that Ghanaians would benefit from their practically rich experience in governance.

About unity of the party, the delegates have said it all. President Mahama needs to use party members of rich experience for the benefits of the party and Ghana.

Kofi Portuphy needs to engage the losers of the elections at the just ended congress to form a formidable front for 2016 elections.