We have said time and again that the groundswell of opposition against the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) would peak during the run up to the 2024 elections. Just when everybody including some elements in the NDC are commending the NPP for a highly successful primaries last Saturday, crestfallen Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng must throw in the spanner into the celebrations by putting certain persons on the wanted list for either receiving or accepting bribes.
As for the Special Prosecutor, he is only interested in the public relations gimmick instead of the real fight against corruption. Thus, he wants to always place the alleged cases before the bar of public opinion instead of the facts, the law and the evidence. Mr. Special Prosecutor, before you proceed further, Ghanaians want to know the outcome of investigations into vote buying during the NDC congress in May this year.
The Special Prosecutor’s bias towards the Akufo-Addo government is becoming legendary, exposing him as a public official with a negative agenda. He deserves to be watched. This and many other plots should spur on the NPP to close its ranks to make the task of winning next year’s elections, although daunting, it is equally surmountable.
The internal contest to select candidates for the constituencies with sitting MPs would be equally keen and fierce. This is so because for sometime now, some party executives, MMDCEs and chief executives of state-owned enterprises have been lacing their boots to unseat some of the MPs.
That exercise in January 2024 would not be without casualties, as in the estimation of some delegates certain MPs did not perform to the expectations of the people.
MPs are not development agents but primarily, law makers, but all the same they can facilitate the provision of the needs of the people. As the party gears up for another “showdown” in the constituencies, the rank and file expects the leadership to dig deep for the “wisdom” to direct the primaries.
A contest of this kind would likely bring about disagreements and in few cases innuendos and personal attacks. It thus behooves the leadership to outline the ground rules that provide a level playing field to the extent that those who would lose would feel compelled to work to ‘break the eight’.
The party leadership is reminded not to put impediments in the way of all those who want to contest in the primaries. When the nominations are opened, the processes must be transparent to ensure access to the nomination forms by all who think they are eligible.
It must dawn on us that when the delegates decide in a free and fair contest, it becomes difficult for defeated candidates to find excuses not to work for the party.
The task of ‘breaking the eight’ would be a difficult battle. But it is possible through hard work and unity of purpose, ensuring that all party supporters refrain from dissonance but work in harmony.
Another hurdle was cleared last Saturday, but another major one is in January. Its outcome would set the tone for the battle royale to break the eight on December 7, 2024.
It is for this reason that we remind all party supporters of the admonition of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to the newly elected parliamentary candidates. In congratulating them, the Vice President urged them to adopt humility and grace to also win the 2024 polls. “I would like you to remember that your victory isn’t the end, but the beginning of a new chapter of service and responsibility. To win the confidence of the Ghanaian people, we must adopt humility and grace,” Dr. Bawumia said. He also thanked those who lost for their team spirit and assured that the party is indebted to them.
The party is taking steps to close ranks and while Saturday’s successful primaries inch towards breaking the eight, the next outcome of the next and final phase of the primaries sets the tone for making it a resounding and historic possibility.