Now that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has picked a flagbearer, a leader for that matter, the seeming rudderless state in which the party has been could witness a change, maybe not.
A political party like any entity must have someone screaming out sensible orders to keep everybody behaving in unison and decency. The existence of a rudderless grouping in the political space could pose danger to other players and render democracy unproductive.
Considering developments in recent times, we might be expecting too much from a party whose founder is incensed at the direction of the political grouping.
When the leadership issues its varying orders, these are not adhered to by the rank and file. The emanating picture of a centre not holding is a story of vintage NDC in recent times.
Enter the Emile Short Commission of Enquiry on the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election violence. The NDC leadership even after demanding an enquiry into the occurrence shot at the integrity of the commission regardless of the blemish-less testimonials of the citizens constituting it.
They did not stop at that. They announced in no uncertain terms that they would neither cooperate with the commission nor appear before it. We wondered whether when any of them is subpoenaed should their appearance be in the national interest they would be obstinate as to snub the order. If matters had degenerated to such a low and coming from a group which wants the nod of Ghanaians to rule they would have suffered another minus in their morality scorebook.
Their actions so far have not been in line with their ‘no cooperation’ announcement; they are a vacillating lot, not consistent. It would therefore mean that the leadership has no direct bearing on the party supporters on the ground, not on the aforementioned score.
Those who are relevant to the proceedings are appearing the obstinacy they posted on social media for populist reasons not visible. What has changed? We are of course dealing with a party locked on inconsistencies and populism.
Had the announced obstinacy been played out we have missed the tale of dodging bullets in broad daylight by men with mystical powers.
The Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election when it was beyond midway suffered a setback with specific reference to the NDC. The party’s leadership had announced a withdrawal from the electoral race. It did not work out, thankfully. NDC voters did not even hear the order, let alone obey it.
When we have in our democratic milieu a political grouping showing such fault lines the former President now flagbearer should have thought twice which videos he showed his diplomat guests. Maybe he is planning another engagement with the diplomats: the thriller from the Hawks vs Taskforce show in Kumasi is ready. Â