The major opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) might have severed their connection to three of its outspoken members; Samuel Koku Anyidoho a former Deputy General Secretary, Allotey Jacobs a former Central Regional Chairman of the party, Stephen Atubiga, and senior party person but their utterances speak volumes about internal affairs of the party. You can never rule out the fact that these persons who have been taken out of the party have their own internal sources who divulge information to them about every single action the leadership of the party takes.
Over the past four years they have maintained a consistent critique of the current leadership of the NDC party, and that has to do with the eventual backsliding of the party machinery and prospects in future elections. Some had seen their comments to be anti-party but the truth in what they say is practically the obvious.
Their concerns could be genuine yet for their current status one would say they are embittered. Among several concerns raised by these personalities is the failing transitioning process of the NDC to restructure or reorganise itself from opposition. Likened to the resolutions taken by the Founder, President Jerry John Rawlings [late], and John Evans Atta Mills [late] to gunner the support of the grassroot and the Ghanaian voters, these personalities had argued that the current leadership has over the past two terms been disappointing.
In a critique by Koku Anyidoho; "Jerry John Rawlings built the NDC, John Evans Atta-Mills re-built the NDC! Some pretender; who came from the Peoples Heritage Party (PHP), in 1996, as an opportunist to join the NDC thinks he/she can destroy the NDC? Torfiakwa". Though no name has been mentioned, it thus suggests the former President John Dramani Mahama and the crop of party leadership had caused a retrogression of the legacies of his successors.
The hopes of the party, learning from their disappointment in the 2020 elections is to cause some electoral reforms that had already been tabled after the 2012 election dispute, which ironically was discarded by the NDC's appointed Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei. Though very commendable, their posturing now is seen to be an imposition on the EC given that there is no consensus from other political parties of the proposals they have offered.
The current EC Chair, Jean Mensa shot it off, and advised they take the necessary steps to engage other stakeholders in the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC). Observing these engagements from his solitude, Stephen Atubiga mocks the NDC is rather taking steps to lay blame on the Electoral Commission for its impeding defeat come 2024.
Stephen Atubiga had maintained that; "The incompetent NDC is already setting the tone to blame the EC for their 2024 defeat. I am surprised the grassroots have not taken control of their party yet."
His argument about 'taking control' by the grassroot is exactly what Koku Anyidoho had trumpeted over the past years when the Founder of the party passed away. He had hoped for a revolution to take place in the party so the existing 'non-performing' executives been taken out.
As daring as he could be, Mr. Anyidoho is threatening to do the unexpected by challenging the party at the Supreme Court over the cases of abuse of the NDC constitution. It would be a historic case to witness as this would be the first time the party face off with its own (expelled) officer.
Allotey Jacobs on the other hand, has been exceptionally calm in his utterances yet diabolic to say the least of how things are punning out in the NDC, especially when they raise criticism at the Akufo Addo government. He had argued that the NDC in its current state is no better alternative to lead Ghana nor to compare to what President Akufo Addo has done.
In some media conversations he had posited that the NDC needs to 'purge' itself of some leadership and other political influences lest they shall remain in opposition for a long time.
Cases of Disappointment
Post elections, the power to lead the NDC lies with the National Chairman, and as so argued by Koku Anyidoho, there is a clear case of abuse by the national executives to subvert that power to flag bearer who had lost an election (John Mahama). Interestingly, a response from Mr. Ofosu Ampofo in justifying this constitutional breach was that same treat was granted late Prof Atta Mills when he lost the 2004 elections.
Today, in a clandestine approach to amass some support for himself in the upcoming congress (internal elections), John Mahama is exploiting party machinery for a thank you tour across the country. This, is seen to be counter political tactic to the very tour embarked on by President Nana Akufo Addo.
Another disappointment expressed by these persons which needs to be resolved going into future elections has been the poor state of the NDC's IT infrastructure used for collaring election results. The party became a laughing stock during the 2020 election petition when it failed to provide their own collated results to support their claims.
It was no joke for Atubiga to say the NDC cannot compare to the intellect and innovation of the Peter Anokye, the New Patriotic Party's IT guru. He, just like his colleagues had alleged that the internal collation software was dysfunctional and a cause to the NDC's two term defeat. Sadly, the cause taken by the party leadership as part of its restructuring exercise had been silent on this matter.
It appears their concentration now is more with winning the next internal election than getting the party ready for the major tasks.
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