The results of the 2020 general elections and the follow up election of Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin of the NDC as Speaker of the Eighth Parliament have sent a nasty shudder through the spines of many NPP supporters. Whilst the NDC MPs and supporters are still on wild celebrations, many supporters of the NPP are moaning, feel bamboozled, flabbergasted and are still dazed and wondering what really hit them so hard. Many NPP supporters are very angry with the Party leadership at the National, Regional and Constituency levels for recent developments and many members are being blamed for contributing to the near defeat of the Party. It is difficult for them to comprehend how a Party that won the 2016 presidential polls massively (5,773,290 – 53.6%) with one and a half million votes and increased its parliamentary seats from 123 seats to 169, could perform so abysmally in spite of the financial and material resources that were placed at their disposal to clinch a landslide victory. Complacency on the part of every member of the Party was responsible. With the massive support in 2016 elections, the results of the 2020 elections was considered a forgone conclusion. Many supporters believed that with the popularity of the President and his Vice, the Free SHS and the implementation of many other good economic policies, the votes will be flowing in favour of the NPP, but unfortunately this did not happen.
Ironically, some good policies of the government such as “galamsey” ban, closure of phantom financial institutions, distribution of premix fuel, the ban on rosewood and illegal lumber, establishment of Independent Prosecutor Office among others were the policies that nearly ditched the Party because of its implementation and the bad twists given them by the NDC. Some MPs were completely out of touch with their constituencies, did not campaign and the financial and other resources given them for the campaign were allegedly hoarded for personal use. Many MMCEs and DCEs were aliens to the foot soldiers of the Party not because they could not meet their incessant demands but their arrogance and daily pitiable remarks made them angry. Party Chairmen and their Executives became tin gods who believed they could win the elections with their singular votes. The opulent lifestyles, arrogance of appointees and ‘know it all’ attitudes of some high government officials offended the sensitivity of many Ghanaians. Yes, the anger of supporters is justified but whom are they blaming – the Government and its appointees, the Party and its Executives or the supporters? Collectively, all must share the blame and stop pointing accusing fingers. The Party requires a sober reflection on the factors that contributed to its near defeat for appropriate remedial measures to be taken. The kind of “blame game” that has characterised criticisms in recent times is not the best for the NPP and if not stopped, as warned by the President, could send the Party to opposition come 2024.
The President and his Vice worked so hard to keep the Party in power and today I can confidently say that the NPP is in power because of the popularity of the first and second gentlemen of the land. The results confirmed that the President was rewarded for his hard work even though his previous majority was drastically reduced. The electorates served notice to our parliamentarians that their votes should not be taken for granted and punished some of them. Even though the imposition of some candidates during the primaries to select parliamentary candidates might have caused some dissatisfaction amongst some supporters, the effect was not too drastic because of the 46 lost seats, only 17 constituencies accounted for the imposition factor. The reality on the ground was that the factors which contributed to the dwindling electoral votes were multifaceted and no other arm of the Party can blame the other and all must share the blame. What is very significant is that the electorates served a notice that ex-President Mahama is not the best substitute to President Akufo-Addo and without doubt the NPP as a Party, is the toast of many voters. The Party must therefore be sensitive to public criticisms of its activities, eschew the perceived arrogance and intellectual pomposity and respond positively to the needs of majority of Ghanaians. Many Ghanaians abhor the arrogance of Sammy Gyamfi and co, the insults, lies, deceit and evil mechanisations of the NDC. Ghanaians will therefore be disappointed if NPP fails them in 2024.
Many observers of the political scene have attributed many other reasons for NPP’s pyrrhic victory and some reasons are so destructive, diversionary, divisive and unnecessary that I don’t want to get involved in the quagmire. I will however plead with all lovers of the NPP to join hands and come together to find the common ground to strategise and plan to win election 2024. We are all witnesses to the damage done to the country’s economy by the NDC when President Kufuor left office in 2008, having left a solid economic foundation for the country to progress. Sadly, the NDC messed up so badly that the Party was kicked out of office by the people with a majority in both presidential and parliamentary elections never experienced in the history of elections in the Fourth Republic. Every member of the Party must reflect seriously on the problems ahead now that the storm seems to have settled in spite of the ongoing Supreme Court trial. The President has done so much for the unity of the Party, his love and commitment are very high and I pray that he crowns these positive attributes by ensuring that the Party remains in power in 2024. The sad reality is that the road to 2024 is like crossing a mine field and if not handled properly will not only cost the Party’s 2024 victory, but will seriously undermine its unity. The interest of the Party must be the supreme interest of every member and every effort must be made to eschew parochial interest and individual ambitions.
The major problem facing the Party without doubt, taking into consideration the results of the 2020 elections, is the race to select the Presidential Candidate for the 2024 elections. By the NPP constitutional provisions, the election of this important appointment is due in three years, but unfortunately the self-destructive buttons seem to have been punched. The President has just been sworn into office and the selection of Ministers and major appointees are ongoing. The Party is in the Supreme Court to defend its victory and a Government is yet to be formed to govern the country for the next four years. Is this the time to raise the issue of the selection of the next Presidential Candidate? The answer is positively NO! From Prof Adu Boahen’s era to President Kufuor and to President Akufo-Addo, the race to select these leaders in the Party had gone through rough and very muddy waters and therefore steps must be taken to limit the damage to the Party unity and its chances to 2024 victory.
Yes, I am convinced that this is not the time to discuss presidential candidates but at the same time we cannot rule out the desire of people who have their eyes on the Presidency not to kick start their preparations towards the achievement of their objective, but this should not be done to the detriment of the Party which they would seek to represent. What the Party should not allow is to open the flood gate for all activities to proceed unchecked which obviously will distract or divert attention from governance. Such an action will only be detrimental to the Party’s interest and undermine the gains which the next President would need to stand on to campaign. This is the time for the Council of Elders of the Party to step in and call all interested parties to order. The NDC hired press has already started to create more confusion in the process under the pretext of democracy and freedom of speech but they know what they are doing and hope to achieve with their mischief if we do not put our house in order. Already in the media, the issue of Alan Kyeremanten and Dr. Bawumia’s candidatures have emerged and many twists and turns are being created for their supporters consciously or unconsciously to dance to.
The Party needs to come up with some guidelines and some punitive measures to deter aspirants from creating unnecessary problems for the Party. From my knowledge in the Party, some aspirants will comply whilst others may feign ignorance of what is going on but in reality will be behind it all. The Party needs to take some steps to prevent all kinds of destructive debates on the air waves which might not have been initiated by the perceived candidates themselves. “A stitch in time saves nine” they say.
By Brig-Gen (Rtd) J. Odei