Many were those NDC members who never dreamt of losing power in 2016, worst of it all was the margin with which the NDC lost, unsurprisingly, to some, what is bloated beyond proportion makes most noise when it burst. The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning, says Adlai Stevenson.
The NDC since such a defeat is grappling with the best way to reorganize to stage a better fight, in what is perceived to be the last face of the reorganization, I deem it fit to convey some of the concerns of many party loyal men and women.
Some of which I have skeptically looked at. It is a fact that, ex-President John Mahama is contesting among other six credible senior members of high pedigree in the Party to lead the NDC come 2020 general elections. This piece is focused on the implication of ex-President John Mahama’s candidature, hopefully perhaps another time we shall deal with other candidates.
Without a shroud of doubt, among the aspirants, President John Mahama has impeccable credentials that will make him the most difficult candidate to reckon with. Some of which include, his popularity and charisma, experience, an enviable track record, and above all the financial panache to support the national campaign moving into perhaps the most uncertain and crucial of all elections, which 2020. That notwithstanding, some fundamental concerns still cloud the minds of some delegates and floating voters alike among which include.
Foremost, some basic questions usually asked, by inquisitive minds are, was the NDC that lamed prior to election 2016 as was claimed after the shameful defeat in 2016 polls? If yes is the party, ‘lame horse’ now fit and healthy to run the race this time, controlled by the same person who knew its condition and yet still engaged it on the same marathon? These are questions that call for critical thinking and answers. You remember, in the heats of 2016 election, the then candidate John Mahama likened the NPP to an accident vehicle which needed to be repaired before it could be road worthy? Regrettably and unfortunately an accident car was able to outrun a road worthy and fit for purpose car in a complex race on a rough road. In any case, what caused the horse’s lameness? Was the horse not really under the care and nurture of the same man who registered it for the race? What makes the horse formidable now as compared to the previous time? Some even ask, if the horse which was supposedly living in a ‘stable’ with proper feeds, care and treatment could develop lameness how quick can it heal, train and perhaps get fit for a more sophisticated, cumbrous and vexatious race this time? In short many question the capability of the former President in leading a unified, formidable and dedicated party into 2020 elections.
Secondly, the major challenge that bothers most NDC members is the factor of opportunity for all. There are those, who have articulated the need for the former President not to return into domestic politics given his stature at the world stage and the fact that he is currently considered as statesman and so on. Some equally argue that, what the former President really want to do can equally be achieved when he sits back and offer advice and publicly support a new face and so on and that his return will wipe off the fortunes of many potential future presidents who could emerge from the party. The question still remains this, whether or not President John Mahama has the legal capacity to contest considering the 1992 Constitution and the NDC’s Constitution? The answer obviously is yes. However as to whether or not his contest will block the opportunities of others is simply subjective. Because many believe that electing a candidate in itself is an opportunity for all, thus if you consider yourself fit, then don’t cry foul especially so when the rules are objectively applied devoid of partiality and that President John Mahama could also be a victim if not given the chance to contest as well.
Another critical concern by many is the factor of the Political Party leadership, there are many who are of the view that the national Executives of the NDC today are clearly people who were caused the lameness of the horse, and that they were surreptitiously sponsored and planted to serve the second coming of the former president. Some have even attributed the woeful performance of the party in the 2016 election to this same with the exception of a few. Indeed, many believe the national executives today are to a large extent working to gaping the relationship between the NDC and its founder, by making John Mahama a more powerful figure and so on. In essence some party faithful believe the NDC still has a long way to go in uniting its rank and file especially under the leadership of the former President John Mahama.
Adding to the above is the lurking and creeping concern of greed and selfishness that grappled the NDC under the leadership of the NDC in especially the last two years, some believe even in opposition under the leadership of their arch rival the npp, they are better treated and respected. They hold the view that, the very people who exhibited acts of greed and wickedness on them are to a large extent the very people who are firmly rooted in the campaign trail of the former President and in fact still have the powers of calling the shots. To many, this people have not learnt any lesson, and that should the party win under the leadership of John Mahama, those guys will unleash more hardship than they did previously. Inferentially, the apathy which plagued the party will engrain. the concerns are that, should a new candidate emerge on the ticket of the NDC, it will serve a new dawn characterized with individuals who will learn a lesson from those before them by serving the grassroots being selfless and generous.
Lastly, one potent opinion held among many NDC members is also the concern of the time it takes to market a presidential candidate to be acquainted to the floating voters, adopted by the grassroots and so on before winning the presidential seat, some argue that, recent records shows that in the fourth republic, almost all the presidents in exception of President Rawlings won elections on the second or third attempt, for instance the late President Mills contested and lost twice to President Kufuor and eventually won in 2008 on the third attempt, same can be said of President Akufo-Addo. Therefore, judging from recent history there is the need for a new face who shall be nurtured, from now so that at most in the second term of his contest he could easily, in. They opine that failure to adopt and accept this reality, it means the NDC is likely to spend three terms in opposition or twelve years before regaining power.
Lastly and not the least, is the concern of the volatility, and potential outbreak of violence in election 2020 should the NDC elect President John Mahama as a candidate, it is undeniable fact that, many young supporters of President John Mahama are fervently sowing and nurturing their political ambitions with the expectations of appointments in his government and so on. Similarly, there are those who are working hard to ensure that their political careers don’t die of or fade away alongside the former president. This essentially will cause a lot of people trying to use all means to secure and ensure victory which to a large extent may involve violence and so on. Therefore, some people believe that, a new candidate is likely going to calm nerves since he is perceived to have more chances of contesting elections and so on.
In conclusion, in spite of the above concerns, largely President John Mahama is potentially going to win the NDC’s presidential primaries with a vast margin that may be largely accepted. The advantages will be that he is a better candidate to be marketed to the Ghanaian voters, a better experienced, one with records, financial muscle, charisma, eloquence, in-depth knowledge of the governance system among others. The risk and repercussions nonetheless is that, the NDC is likely to battle a tall mounting of apathy, disunity, and most of it all a risk of spending eight to twelve solid years in opposition.
By: U.L Mustapha
0540661328
Mustaphaumar633@gmail.com
