What Does the Future Hold for Activists of the NDC Party?

Richard

Accra, October 18, 2017//-I bring you warm greetings from my base in Kotobabi, a suburb of Accra. I have not written any lengthy statement/article about the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a party that I grown to love.

 The reason is just simple. I have taken some time off to deal with issues regarding my personal development and also to reflect on our excruciating defeat in the December 2016 elections and the future/relevance of the NDC in contemporary Ghanaian political scene.

Even though I have taken a break from the hurly-burly of political discussions on most of our platforms, I have however monitored and followed all discussions keenly amongst party stakeholders.

One thing which is clear from all these discussions is the blame game. Many party stalwarts including the former President, National Organizer (2016 Campaign Coordinator), National Youth Organizer, Party Founder,  MPs, former appointees and a host of other party top guns have been accused of sending the party into opposition despite the incumbency advantage. How do I describe this troubling situation? Do I call this situation bitter-sweet or what?  Well, the content will say it all after the curtain is finally drawn on this subject matter.

In the heat of the accusations and the display of extreme anger expressed my party members, some of the accused persons have come out publicly to admit the said accusations even if meekly.

Before I delve into the real issues, I want to ask few public interest questions. Was the mere acceptance of blame by the indicted officers meant to calm nerves of party supporters? Or it was done under duress to look clean in the faces of millions of party followers? The answer is not far-fetched. Your guess is as good as mine.

Yes, the role of political party activists in contemporary Ghanaian politics cannot be over emphasized. Political parties across the divide have activists who perform various functions for their parties in one time or the other. The NDC as any other political party in Ghana also have hard working activists who year in year out support activities of the party at all levels of the structures.

It is however disheartening to note that those activists that mobilized and organized the grassroots for constituency, regional and national rallies, those that were appointed to represent the party at the polling stations as polling agents, and to safeguard the party’s electoral victory even at the peril of their lives were not regarded in any away after victory is secured.

It is a known fact that the two recent political victories of the NDC was largely gained by activists who campaigned tirelessly to mobilize party members and floating voters across the nation to vote for the party.

These foot soldiers risked their lives by attending day and night rallies just to maintain the party in government during the 2012 election. But when the party won power eventually, the hard works of these die-hard grassroot members were not rewarded by the affluent power brokers of the party. The reason, I cannot really tell.

The issue of neglect was raised on many platforms as a serious threat to the 2016 victory project but no one cares. At a point in time when the signs were clear that the grassroot supporters were feeling some group of people were regarded more NDC than them (grassroots) no action was taken because that was none of anybody’s business.

The then president and leader of our party also sees no evil or hears no evil. He sat in the government house and looked on helplessly when party activists who helped him to be called Mr. President were being treated in such a cruel manner.

Why do you allow arm chair politicians,movie stars and other self-seeking groupings in the comfort of their air conditioned cars, offices and homes enjoy at the expense of the hard working party activists/ foot soldiers who brought the party to power?

Mr former President, should you return to the boxing ring, how can these activists you thought do not matter in anyway be motivated to support you again?

Can you imagine this, after working so hard for the party you love and when it is time for “no ko fieo” then you are being side-lined? The question is, are we in this game of politics for nothing? The blatant truth is a big NO! We are all in it for something (benefits/opportunities).

But why this treatments? The sad issue is that during the struggle, none of their children who are the major beneficiaries of our toil will be seen. Their children have not done anything good over the years in any way to help the development of the party. You can agree or disagree with me but that still remains the truth. It is time we stand up and tell this party wreckers that enough is enough.

The departure from the socialist philosophy upon which the party was formed is highly dangerous and a threat to the existence of the party. Do these lazy party functionaries really understand what is meant by social ideology?

If they do, why the gradual introduction of class system within the party? The party is no more people centred. It is now a market place of property acquisition. Aabaa……is it what the revolution that brought us into being thought us? I cannot just think far. Some heads must roll.

To me, the dangerous level of neglect of activists by party leadership was sheer wickedness and an abuse of political power gained through collective efforts and sacrifices. These crop of individuals who exhibited this kind of inhumane treatment against fellow party members are the people I call “the true enemies within”.

They have worked seriously behind the scene to send the party to opposition for their own parochial interests. Now we are in opposition, how canthe unemployed activists contribute dues to fund the party? Coming events they say cast their own shadows. Let’s wait and see how events will unfold in the coming days.

Never again should we allow this gang of greedy bastards to ruin the future of the party of our birth. They do not deserve the title honourable. When you call them by that title, it gets into their heads and they want to lord over you.

Stop worshiping party big weights for few coins. When you take their money, you will be compromised in exposing them. This is not the reason why we were sent to school? No!  Party activists must rise to the occasion and take their rightful place in the party.

Don’t be intimidated by anyone. Speak up your mind without fear or favour. The party belongs to all of us and we must revolutionize our activities to save the party from the wicked claws of the enemies within.

Fellow comrades, the mind-boggling question is what does the future hold for us as activists?Well, we have now been booted into opposition. It is now going to be survival of the fittest. As you are aware, some of us have been in “opposition” even when our party was in government so the heat is not going to be that much felt. I just pity and fear for those that will soon be sent to the prisons for looting state cash.

In answering the above question, I will say we cannot continue mourning our defeat. Yes, we have been treated badly by our own people……We have learnt our lessons the hard way but for how long can we continue the blame game?

After all, there is no need crying over spilt milk. A simple advice is that we should not allow our pass to supress us. We can only learn from those experiences and reposition ourselves in the party. This is our time! This is the time to work hard as activists and take our rightful places within the party.

This is the time to expose people with destructive tendencies within the rank and file of the party. It is also the time to name and shame NDC MPs who fail to fulfil the same promises that won them those seats in Parliament. I will come back soon after I return from my home village, Tafi.

 By Richard Kasu-Adzadu

(NDC ACTIVIST)

0248640364

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

*