The Silver-Lining in the NDC 'victory'.
By Nana Owusu-Nkwantabisa Feature Article | Thu, 01 Jan 2009
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The NPP has championed freedom and democracy throughout its history and it would be a tragedy if that should be compromised during this election cycle. The NPPs major loses in the Central and Greater Accra regions (the true swing regions in Ghanaian politics) in both the parliamentary and presidential elections, reflect some major disappointments with the past administration by the Ghanaian electorate. For NPP sympathizers, this is a wasted opportunity since the party had a platform to build on its democracy and freedom credentials and broaden its national appeal over the past 8 years.
To call a spade a spade, the Kufuor administration achieved a lot in the socio-economic front even if they failed to connect with the electorate. Some of the achievements include - a stable exchange rate, reduced rates of inflation and interest rates, GDP growth, National Health Insurance, School Feeding program, Youth Employment, Infrastructure development etc. However, it looks like the perennial problem of the UP tradition of failing to connect with the Veranda boys came back to bite the party once again after all these years.
One reason why NPP stalwarts have detested the NDC is because of its antecedents - berthed from a coup. If that is our major beef, then it is time to give some kudos to the party for having participated in a democratic process. J.J would probably be 'King of Ghana' by now if he had not overthrown the PNP and tarried too long as an unelected ruler. If at this time, Jerry took to the political dais instead of the top of an armoured vehicle to clamour for change, let us accept it in good faith and applaud the development of democracy in Ghana.
Let the inter party (IPAC)council get together and address the ethnic issues in our country. Appoint traditional rulers and political leaders from the Ashanti and Volta region to a committee to help propel Ghana and tackle the ethnic divide head-on. Rawlings and Kufuor should play major parts in that dialog.
Finally, the new president, most likely Prof Mills, should build on the achievements of the Kufuor administration and move Ghana forward. He should also nurture the new-found love of democracy in his party.
Nana Owusu-Nkwantabisa
Legon alum (class of 1990).
Source: Nana Owusu-Nkwantabisa
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The Silver-Lining in the NDC 'victory'.
Prince Ofosu Sefah | Toronto-Canada (Location: Canada) | 1/1/2009 8:25:00 PM
Nana, I agree with the fact that the NPP does not deserve to lose. However, this is not a Veranda Boys palaver. Unless the Veranda Boys phenomenon means a coalition of non-Akans and a small number of Akans especially Nzemas and Fantis. This is how I truly see the Veranda Boys phenomenon. The NPP is suffering from tribal politics. Look, the NPP is stuck in a Chicken and Egg situation. Without Chicken you cannot have eggs and without eggs one cannot have chicken. Many non-Akans especially Ewes and GAs to a lesser extent viscerally oppose the NPP now and its ancestral parties, no matter what.
So, the NPP cannot seem to have Presidential leadership originating outside of Eastern, Ashanti or Brong Ahafo (once) because its foundation beyond these areas is shaky at best. This in turn perpetuates the perception of many outside of these areas that the NPP is for Akans only. And, as they believe that more, they ensure that the party becomes even more Akan-Centric.
The easiest thing for the party to do is to turn tribalistic and maximise its Akan votes, which they could do but it is not good for Ghana's health or the long-term broadening and making of the party a natural governing party, which it should be, based on its superior talent and performance and democratic credentials.
President Kuffuor had a great opportunity, first with choosing a more dynamic VP from the North (who, are more open-minded than GAs and Ewes, politically - frankly) and grooming him/her to win the party's Presidential primaries after him. He obviously did not choose such a VP. Worse, from a strategic perspective, he did not maximise the Akan vote, by the way he treated even some non-NPP regions better than the NPP's base regions. In other words, he was neither tribalistic nor did he do anything to get more non-Akans to identify with the party. Instead, he ended up supporting Mr. Kyeramteng, who is not only an Akan but is considered an Ashanti (the base of the NPP's bases, which is also Mr. Kuffuor's own tribe).
What the NPP needs is not to sit with Mr. Rawlings. That is just not going to happen or have any benefit for the NPP. The NDC (which essentially has now replaced the CPP) and the CPP in its various metamorphosis before the NDC, benefits from the NPP/UP/PP's ethnic straight-jacket and they are not going to give up the one key advantage they have.
However, the NPP needs to fix this issue itself. It needs to settle on a workable strategy. Turn tribalistic or make more non-Akans feel at home. However, it should not continue its illogical strategy that neither accentuates its Akan base of support nor make more non-Akans feel at home in the party. Obviously, tribalism is not good for Ghana or for the long term health of the party so they should not start taking that path.
So, the way to go is for the party's leadership to strategically plan to make more non-Akans feel at home in it. If the party could find a dynamic leader from the north, I am almost certain that the party will certainly become a natural governing party in Ghana. Mr. Kyerementeng is not the answer. Even Dr. Kennedy will be a good start. I will like to know if anyone believes that even a marginally dynamic Fanti or Northern NPP Presidential Candidate would have had any trouble winning this election.
The NPP needs to think long term and stop ignoring Ghana's tribal politics. Tribalism is the biggest issue in African politics and Ghana is not immune. The solution is not going to come naturally or easily. I am sure Mr. Kyeramanteng an Nana Akufo-Addo are ready to roll again. But, the NPP needs someone quite different from them now and for its short and long term success.
The Silver-Lining in the NDC 'victory'.
Owusu-Nkwantabisa | - (Location: United States) | 1/1/2009 9:32:00 PM
Prince,I agree with your analysis and that is what I was alluding to when I described the last 8 years as a wasted opportunity - the NPP needed to broaden its base. It has to shed its coat as an Akan party. The success of the party lies with it championing its values of freedom, democracy and economic development. The NDC has stolen the CPPs mantle ( as a broad based party) and have a wonderful opportunity to play it to its fullest advantage over the next 4 years.
The Silver-Lining in the NDC 'victory' - Mo ne Kasa!
Jay Pee | London, U.K.- (Location: United Kingdom) | 1/2/2009 2:35:00 AM
Brilliant, Brilliant! Pure Wisdom.Need I say more. Like Elihu to Job and his 3 friends you two made all earlier analysts seem very pedestrian. But dont let this get lost in all the confusion going on now. Please write this up and communicate it to some of the younger NPP leaders such as Dan Botwe or Kennedy Owusu Agyapong and to Mac Manu, maybe via the NPP web site.
Frankly I am not an NPP person, not NDC or any other party, but I believe it would take an incredible amount of partisanship or dishonesty for anyone to say that NPP's performance and vision has not been sterling by African standards, given the resources they started with. I find the alternative NDC quite moribund, so what you do in this would be a sterling contribution to the development of Mother Ghana.
