Our politics must grow

We are products of our past, but we do not have to be prisoners of it.  — Rick Warren

Come Saturday, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will elect candidates to represent the party to compete in the 2016 general election. The NDC has taken grass-roots participation in the political process to new heights with the attempt to allow all the registered members of the party to determine who is selected to lead them into the national election. While it is true that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was the first to expand the base of the Electoral College, the NDC has moved it to greater heights, all pointing to the fact that our politics is growing qualitatively.

One good thing about the expanded involvement of the rank and file in the selection process of candidates is the fact that corruption and corruptible practices would be minimised, if not completely eliminated.

Trying any initiative for the first time always has challenges and it is hoped that the party will be able to scale the hurdle to pave the way for all political parties in the country to choose that path, if for nothing at all, to reduce the monetisation of our politics and enable committed and trusted individuals without financial muscle but who are respected by society to offer themselves for political service.

We need to improve openness and transparency in our politics. It is equally imperative for all to appreciate that it is not the fundamental right of any candidate to represent the people in the name of a political party and that it is only a privilege to serve.

Respect for rule of law

That is why each person has an obligation to respect the rules of engagement of the party. At the end of it all, only one candidate can represent the party in the constituency. It is equally better for candidates to unite and team up for the victory of their preferred political party than to fight and allow another political party to win an election.

Therefore, all the contestants must accept the will of the electorate and abide faithfully by the outcomes of the process once all the rules and regulations are observed.

The situation where some candidates, after losing out in such competitions, turn round to make baseless claims out of which they decide to go independent must be condemned.

It is necessary that we appreciate how individuals lose some of their fundamental rights the moment they decide to join others to pursue common objectives. It is necessary that nothing is done openly to undermine the chances of any candidate. Once a level playing field has been created, no individual interest should be seen to be greater or more important than the collective interest of the party.

There is no sense fighting over a primary election. However, party members must be aware of the fact that even in constituencies considered safe for the party, some candidates will attract more votes than other candidates.

Therefore, in choosing the representatives, there is the need to settle on those who could poll the highest number of votes for the party. In the constituencies which are swing seats, the necessity to elect the most popular candidates is obvious, since giving the nod to a candidate who does not command the support of the party will make it even more difficult to sell that candidate to the larger society.

The kind of multi-party political system that we are running requires that all political parties are operated on sound democratic principles with respect for the rule of law and due process.

Democratic principles

When all the parties and their members accept readily and willingly the principles and tenets of constitutional democracy, we would have a peaceful and orderly system of governance. That would also mean respect for diversity and tolerance of divergent views and opinions, mindful of the fact that we all cannot prefer the same things all the time.

The time has come for all of us to act as watchdogs over the activities of all the political parties operating in the country. That would not only ensure that they become more open and transparent, but that their processes and procedures are better understood by their members and all of us since our destiny is linked up with the capacity of the parties to manage national affairs and the kind of leadership that they offer. 

As the NDC takes another step in our steady march towards diffusing the values of democracy and entrenching constitutionalism, we would appeal to both party members and candidates to respect the rules of the game.

Above all, candidates must value the decisions of the electorate. It does not make sense to question the choices of the people while proffering to respect their inalienable right to choose for themselves those they want to lead them. We wish the NDC a peaceful and orderly conduct of their primaries.