The National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has challenged the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) to demonstrate political maturity by providing alternatives instead of hijacking the “fix the country” campaign by citizens.
To him, it was shocking for the NDC to abandon their own political manifestoes and “be struggling to own the ‘Fix Ghana’ agitation.” Forgetting that the citizen’s expectation of the political leadership is not an endorsement of the NDC, but an indictment to them as well.
So, instead of undermining the political process through agitation and incessant propaganda, they (NDC) should be cooperating with the government in addressing the concerns of the people.
He therefore stressed that “My message to my colleagues in the other parties (NDC and others) is that the better way to fix Ghana is not by shouting from the rooftops or social media. You fix Ghana by developing proper policies that win the mandate of the people in elections and being allowed the space to deliver on the mandate. This is what the people of Ghana expect of us as politicians.”
This challenge which was made over the weekend coincides with the scheduled protest of the NDC’s youth wing dubbed “March for Justice” being held in Accra on Tuesday, May 6, 2021. The march follows allegations by key NDC party members targeted at government over the murder of one Kaaka at Ejura recently. Although the NDC and some social activists mischievously linked the murder of the young man to his affinity with “Fix the Country” campaign, Police investigations and an eyewitness account has linked the murder to the brother of the deceased.
Prior to this there have been many other agitations and propaganda targeted at the government to make it look bad.
It is for this reason that the NPP Chairman called for cooperation by advising that “We must always remember that even though we have our political differences, we should co-operate with political colleagues in other parties in working to improve and enrich Ghana.”
He added that the difference in political ideologies should not be a basis for hostilities against each other but rather a fertile ground for healthy competition in the interest of Ghana.
“In our diversity of political approaches and ideologies, the NPP and our NDC colleagues and all other political parties must be united in the dedication to make our country a better place for now and the generations to come,” he noted.
Mr. Blay who is an astute Lawyer emphasized that party politics is a critical and vital element of a healthy democratic process, contest and effective governance in the interest of the people.
To this end, the party that wins power has the responsibility to deliver on its mandate just as the NPP under the leadership of the Akufu Addo-Bawumia team is committed to doing.
On the other hand “Parties that did not win government must demonstrate political maturity and desist from undermining the political process through agitation and incessant propaganda.”
He therefore urged all political parties to see themselves as a family of Ghanaians who “should never forget that the strength of each party ultimately contributes to the strength of the country.”
Chairman Blay then reiterated that “Strong institutions and appropriate political infrastructure are important foundations for peaceful political processes. The NPP is committed to these processes. The people of Ghana expect no less, and I encourage all other parties to be equally committed.”
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com