Congrats, NDC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the weekend elected its national officers to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.

As is the feature of electioneering, the Daily Graphic cannot discount the fact that tensions might have gone high, but we applaud the party and its teeming supporters, especially the delegates, contestants and their supporters, for the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted, as well as a successful conference.

We also congratulate both the victors and the losers on the competition they offered one another which brought the democratic credentials of the party into focus.

The Daily Graphic agrees that the benefits of a multiparty system are enormous and so every form of encouragement must be offered all parties to espouse their ideologies, as the freedom to present one’s views will prevent the nation from being divided into rival groups.

 A strong multiparty democracy also brings about different shades of opinion that make it difficult for Parliament to become a puppet in the hands of the Executive, thereby minimising the chances of Executive dictatorship.

It is for this reason that we will always offer every form of support to all political parties to make them functional for the benefit of the country.

 Now that the NDC’s national elections are over, we advise the new officers to extend the olive branch to their fellow contestants and build bridges in order to harness the potential of every member of the party for the task ahead as the party prepares to elect its flag bearer next year for the 2020 general election.
 
It should be emphasised to members of the party that if they want to make an impact in the next presidential and parliamentary elections, then this is not the time to dwell on the few disputes that might have arisen in the lead up to the elections.

The Daily Graphic posits that as political activism develops in the country and political party members become more involved in decision making, more political parties are certain to expand their electoral colleges.

This time round the NDC welcomed delegates in excess of 9,000, in addition to 850 observers.

This, no doubt, put a lot of pressure on facilities such as washrooms.

Even the air conditioners could not function effectively due to the number of people at the venue.  

The Fantasy Dome, which is supposed to accommodate 5,000 people, had to house about 15,000 people, which is three times its capacity.

Our advice to all political parties is to adopt innovative ways for their conferences and congresses as more members become involved.

 Parties should consider conducting their elections on constituency and regional basis to avoid cramming people into places, such as happened at the NDC congress.

Otherwise we will be compromising the safety of people, since, in case of disaster, it would be difficult for emergency services to conduct rescue operations.  

Conducting these elections in the constituencies and the regions will also help reduce the long time spent at meetings, as happened at the NDC congress.

As the new leadership takes the mantle, we wish to see a party that will criticise its own policies and programmes, instead of the current practice where anything that is proposed by one party is seen to be wrong by opposing parties, whereas people in the party see nothing wrong with the policy.

 We will be happy to see the NDC lead in this and add the charting of the new path to its legacy.

Surely, Ghana can be the best and utmost beneficiary when all political parties think of the nation first before their parochial interests.