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Opinions of Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Columnist: Concerned NDC Youth

Mills should take a political shower

We the CONCERNED YOUTH of our great party, the NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) do hereby wish to advice and crave on the indulgence of President John Atta Mills to humbly take a second look at his political career, reputation and integrity which is now questionable and accordingly quit Politics and not to aim at seeking a second term in office for the sake of our great party. This call as envisaged would save the future of our party (NDC).

It is very important to note that, the NDC of today is not the NDC Flt Lt. John Jerry Rawlings toiled and fought for. The very principles and ideologies underlying the formation of the Party in 1992 have been sent to the cleaners and the gutters under President Mills. Under the current leadership of President Atta Mills who doubles as the leader of the NDC as per the provisions of the amended constitution, there is the clear and tangible evidence to the fact that the principles of integrity, accountability, probity and truthfulness has been traded at the market. The principles of integrity and truthfulness have woefully replete under President Atta Mills. Today the Mills led administration will say one thing in public and do otherwise in secret. This is not the promise of NDC.

It is refreshing to recap that, prior to the 2008 general elections, the candidate and flag bearer of the Party, President Atta Mills made a number of promises to the Ghanaian populace and party members and faithful. Amongst the numerous significant promises made was the promise of prosecuting all corrupt officials and people who have dipped their hands into the state’s coffers under President Agyekum Kuffour’s administration (issues of accountability). Indeed this very promise to crack the whip was a huge campaign promise by the President. But as of today, there have been a number of unsuccessful prosecutions of the alleged corrupt officials under the Kuffour Administration. Why? In the name of “Father for All”, Ghanaians and the NDC party are gradually loosing grips on the principle of accountability which is one of the key principles underlying the formation of NDC. For how long should this prevail? For how long should we continue with these acts of maladroitness and incompetence?

Also, the CONCERNED NDC YOUTH wants to recap a campaign promise by the then candidate Mills prior to the 2008 elections to heal the wounds and the cracks in the country. Today, there is a huge crack and wound in the very Party that nurtured President Mills. President Mills has shown the lack of political wheel and authority to heal such wounds within the NDC. So the question we ask is, if even his own house (NDC) is experiencing such cracks and wounds and cannot stamp his authority as the leader to heal such sours and wounds, how then can he heal that of the nation?

It is also becoming clear that the NDC gave political power to a person who is not a politician and as such certain tough political decisions that ought to be taken by a POLITICAL PRESIDENT are not being taken. For instance, most DCE’s appointments were done without recourse to thorough consultations. This led to huge protests and demonstrations from party supporters and faithful and consequently caused the later dismissals of a number of DCE’s from various Assemblies. This is a clear indication that the President has lost touch with the political realities on the grounds.

The President’s demeanor and leadership style has clearly shown that it is NOT ONLY ENOUGH to consider ones humility and modesty that is if even he is, as criteria for selecting leaders, more especially in political leadership. One could be purported to be humble and modest but could be politically weak when it comes to governance as is apparently being witnessed under the Mills-led administration.

*We the CONCERNED NDC YOUTH (THE YOUNG DEMOCRATS) would like to humbly crave on the indulgence of the President and leader of our great Party, NDC, to consider quitting politics honorably in order to save the future of the Party. We undoubtedly believe that the future of NDC will be salvaged and the paramount good of all will be achieved if President Atta Mills takes a second look at his political career and finally takes a political shower.*

Signed

Afrikanus Nii Abbey – (National Coordinator -Concerned NDC Youth (The Young Democrats) John Vianny – (Spokesperson – Concerned NDC Youth)