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The Young Democrats have observed with much pain, the over reliance on “walking” adopted by some section of the membership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from branch through to the regional levels, either through individuals or constituency executives with support from some NEC members and in some instances some sitting members of parliament as the new modus operandi in the quest to win election 2020.
This new phenomenon is not only alien to what the NDC stands for, but also an attempt to erode the gains made by leadership in the past where superior grassroots mobilization was the order of the day.
Mention can be made of notable individuals like Comrade Faustina Nelson, Comrade Hudu Yahya, Hon. Haruna Iddirisu, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo, Hon. Hannah Tetteh, Comrade Issifu Ali, Hon E.T Mensah, Hon. Joe Mettle-Nunoo among others who believed and engaged in superior grassroot mobilization, political party organization and proper evaluation of the operations that went into the victories chalked by the party, especially that of 1992, 1996 and 2008 based on proper research.
The party, once touted as the best machinery for winning elections largely because of its painstaking organisational skills, mobilization and proper audit of voters and votes, has in recent time, specifically since 2012 been reduced to “walking” for the sake of it without any proper evaluation on the fortunes of the party in general elections and especially the upcoming election and any future elections. Not even demonstrations can replace organization and recruitment at the branch level. Walking and demonstrations although necessary, depict lazy ways of doing the right and winning thing. Walking sometimes shows strength, but it does not in itself add anything much. It’s time the NDC relegate these walking menace that is denying our branches organisational skills to the background.
Young Democrats is worried over this lazy organisational trend and wish to submit to leadership and indeed the entire NDC fraternity that, if there is any hope for winning election 2020, it lies in going back to basics and doing the things that ones endeared us to the voter, where just a click of a button the party can tell whether it is winning or not.
It is regrettable, but the point must be made forcefully without massaging words that the current fixation of “walking” and “walking” in the hope of creating some awareness without necessarily recruiting people into the party or strengthening the branches which has become a feature of the party since 2012 is actually the cause of our dwindling fortunes and this is worrying.
There is no proper attempt to recruit at the branch level, collect data through scientific research to inform leadership of the numerical strength of the party ahead of major elections. We are not investing as a political party at the branches. Everything else has been reduced to funfair which in itself adds nothing to the numbers. This is a complete waste of time, energy, resources and a lazy approach to political party organisation and mobilization.
Let us choose the hard way. Hard work they say does not break bones and if there is any hope of winning election 2020, then organising at the branches and indeed at the constituency levels where power emanates is the surest bet for victory.
That is how we were raised as a party. Let’s walk the hamlets, the villages, communities, towns, house to house and engage with the people, develop proper messages around the needs of the people, encourage research and data analysis and focus on the winning ways.
Walking in the streets and most often busing people to such events, believing that the numbers we see, mostly artificial, will work any magic on 7th December, 2020 is a lazy way of organising and surely victory will become a mirage if we don’t change our strategy from this walk, walk, walk intoxication. It doesn’t win power and won’t add to our fortunes. Of course, occasional rallies are not out of place. But funfair or the jamborees and walking in itself do not and can not in anyway guarantee victory to say the least.
We can only deceive ourselves if that is what we believe. The ordinary voter, who is not a political ‘animal’, won’t partake in walking. They only form their decision based on the interactions with them and proposal of policy alternatives and a good message to vote.
About two decades ago, the NDC was seen as a strong grassroot party. But not anymore. Our branches are dead. The branches and constituencies exist only by name, with virtually no data for any meaningful party work. Conflicts and self-seeking individuals who are usually the highest bidders in terms of money but not necessarily the best materials for the task have taken over the party. We no longer as a party prioritize and shop for winnable materials from the base of the party. It’s all about “s/he is rich and capable of paying more than the competent other person. The party like the civil service is not capable of taking punitive measures against saboteurs right at the grassroot levels. We seem to have shifted stance with the NPP, which is organising at the grassroot level. Was it not the belief of NPP to engage in the funfair and the jamborees? Did they not realised that it was not a better option? Haven’t they changed for the better and organising well through the likes of Sammy Awuku and others? Why are we busily mimicking a strategy which never worked for our opponents? What at all is happening to the NDC? Doing the right thing is the surest way of doing the winning thing.
The current situation should inform us that winning can only be a mirage unless something significant is done to change the situation.
A conscious effort is needed to encourage men who have what it takes to work on the masses, be it the elite, trade unions, academia, village folks and indeed all Ghanaians to improve on the acceptability ratings of the party which is the only way to win political power.
It suffice to say that, it is perhaps time to change our attitude towards our support base, such that they can partner us to win 2020 and subsequent elections by proving that we have what it takes to better the lots of Ghanaians.
We are therefore by this release calling on the leadership of the party from branch to national to focus on superior grassroots mobilization and proper organisation to help change the fortunes of the party in the run-up to election 2020 and beyond else we risk staying in opposition much longer.
The NDC is a grassroot party and must be seen as such.
2020, is possible with hard work.
Signed
Eric Nii Odartey Lamptey (Niibinii)
Convenor – Young Democrats
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