Under this fourth Republic of Ghana’s multiparty democracy the NDC had the opportunity to serve motherland Ghana on two occasions; from 1992-2000 under the able leadership of His Excellency Flight Lieutenant John Jerry Rawlings, and from 2009-2016 under the enviable leadership of the two Johns, His Excellency John Atta Mills of blessed memory and His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
Within these two occasions Ghanaians have seen some quality leadership and monumental development in the areas of socioeconomic and infrastructural developments. Key among them were the introduction of our Local Governance concept that had led to the devolution of some powers from the national level to the local authorities through the District Assemblies; enhancing some levels of citizens participation and involvement in our governance system and gargantuan infrastructural development across the country in the areas of education, health, agriculture, rural electrification, opening up of the aviation industry through the expansion of air transport facilities. The construction of major trunk roads including the one from Techiman to Paga, the longest road to be constructed in the country under this fourth republic; the development and the liberalization of the communication sector that has opened up Ghana to the rest of the world and reduced cost of doing business and positively affecting every fabric of our lives; the expansion of the aviation, housing, ports, health, agriculture and educational sectors with additional airstrips and airports, regional and districts hospital and polyclinics, universities, the building the E-Blocks, the launch of the farmer project, free cocoa spraying; the addition of over 3000mgw to the national grid through Ameri, Karpower and other power purchase agreements. These among others are fundamental in reducing poverty and also propelling development in every developing nation such as Ghana. Fortunately, in this fourth republic, the NDC has either set the stage for our developmental indicators or supported the development of such milestones it had inherited. Such privileged and impeccable records makes the NDC a more credible party in the eyes of the Ghanaian electorate and therefore a preferred alternative to NPP at all times.
Unfortunately, the actions and inactions of the party leadership and some privileged few among the larger NDC fraternity who always have the opportunity to be appointed as ministers, Chief Executive Officers to cooperate institutions, board members and chairmen, ambassadors and high commissioners, MMDEs among others always cause the defeat of the party whenever the party has the opportunity to serve the people of Ghana in government. The accumulated effects of such actions and inactions, possibly including the unfriendly policies implemented by the NDC party especially the withdrawal of the nurses and teachers trainees’ allowances, coupled with the luscious promises made by the NPP party in opposition led to the party’s crushing defeat in 2016 by the NPP following the 2000 defeat.
However, ATAG believes that some great lessons have been learnt by all NDC members both the privileged few and the foot soldiers since 2000 when the party witnessed its first political defeat and the 2016 unprecedented defeat by the NPP party during this fourth republic . There is a saying that those who do not learn have nothing to change.
It is interesting to note that when the NDC was in opposition between 2001 and 2008, the party was able to pick the bits and pieces together with unity of purpose, tenacity, and determination, with all hands on deck worked assiduously and tirelessly to give NPP a better ran for their money to clinch and recaptured power in 2009; with the leadership of His Excellency Professor John Atta Mills. However, could that be said and seen with the agenda win in 2020 under the able leadership of His Excellency former president John Dramani Mahama? Though the party grassroots and executives across all levels are undoubtedly well knitted and united behind former president John Mahama to wrest power from this crass and super incompetent Nana Addo Akufo Addo and family administration in the impending 2020 elections, there are all indications that this will be done without the party’s founder; His Excellency Former President John Jerry Rawlings. It is extremely important for the National, Regional, Constituency and Branch Executives to work to pursue party unity across all levels to bring all hands on deck for the realization of the agenda win in 2020 elections.
ATAG, is however not surprised for the bad fate shown by Former President Rawlings to the NDC party he founded and his new statesmanship position and culture of silence since the assumption of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo into power in January 2017. Surprisingly, Former President Rawlings was among the privileged few personalities His Excellency Nana Addo commended and appreciated immediately after winning 2016 elections. This surprised many political pundits and some of us as students of politics who could not fathom such an appreciation to no less a person than a founder of a political party that happens to be defeated by the leader of a political party in that elections associating himself with Former President Rawlings. Wonders they say shall never ends as it will end with the end of the world. Right from January 7, 2017 to date Former President Rawlings has been tamed and his usual booming and fuming, his probity, integrity and accountability statements, finding faults with every president that came after him except himself including those from his own party became a thing of the past. So, is Mr. Rawlings saying that all the negative happenings under His Excellency Nana Addo’s and family government in recent times got his endorsement as a crusader against corruption? The many alleged corruption and the unending one day one corruption scandals that have engulfed His Excellency Nana Addo’s administration from the day of his inauguration to date could not even catch the eyes of Mr. Rawlings; not even the recent PDS fraudulent and abortive deals could also not reawaken Mr. Rawlings spirit to get him barking again as a known anticorruption crusader.
So, one may ask, can the NDC wins the 2020 elections without Former President Rawlings? As students of politics we appreciate the influences of Former President Rawlings in Ghana’s geopolitical environment having led this nation for close to twenty (20) years as both a military dictator and a democratically elected president and therefore the cloud he used to wield in NDC, the party he founded. However, it is also an undisputable fact that the NDC as party has gone through all the stages of group formation including forming, storming, norming and performing and have matured enough over a span of twenty five (25) years to stand on structures and not on individuals or personalities and therefore is in a better position to win the 2020 elections with or without its founder.
Indeed, hope they say is an embodiment of a human being otherwise progress becomes a mirage and a big dream. However, let us assure the lovers and those who have the big heart to still yearn and long for Former President Rawlings to take the center stage in the NDC 2020 campaigns as usual of him to prepare to accept the realities that the NDC will go into the 2020 elections without him. Fortunately or unfortunately, Former President Rawlings seems to have no iota of love for the NDC in his heart again based on his pronouncements in recent times, but only a name ‘founder’ of the party and will go into his grave with this accolade and title since members of the party are not ready to bit the bullets; and possible fear to spill the beans by expelling Mr. Rawlings from the party though the beans have been spelt anyway.
Luckily for the NDC, the 2020 elections is not going to be a matter for the NDC alone; but a bread and butter issues for all Ghanaians since our pilot has panicked and lost control and therefore about to crash the Boeing 707. Consequently, ATAG observations pointed to the fact that the Ghanaians electorate are bracing up to evict this NPP led administration, come December 7, 2020 before this nation is handed over to the lesbians and the homosexuals in this Good country.
Seidu Jaadi – Lead Convener of ATAG Tel:, 0572593390[Supported by: Ibrahim Maalisung Tel: 0209 313 640, Martin Kundor Tel: 0242546740, Naeem Mahmud Tel: 0279 442 154]
