Fiifi Kwetey and Hamza Suhuyini Esq. Are Both Right; NDC Just Need a Mandate Retention Strategy That Will Not Backfire

The National Democratic Party (NDC)'s General Secretary, Hon. Fiifi Kwetey, a former minister in different capacities and a firebrand who tells it as it is and to whoever is ready to listen or not without mincing words, and his team are at it again. This time the hammer is on his own colleagues; party executives who are doubling as appointees of President Mahama and are currently aggressively executing the parts of the reset agenda assigned to them.

No doubt the NDC party's internal elections reform announced by Fiifi Kwetey recently is highly bent on harnessing dedication and commitment to the NDC as a party from party officers as quickly as possible to cement the mandate of the NDC for many years to come and to give Ghana and Ghanaians a continuous relief and good governance they are enjoying currently.

Therefore, his call for party officers, especially those serving in government as appointees of the president, including ministers to give up one of their positions and fully concentrate on the resetting of Ghana agenda that won them power, is great and laudable.

Hamza Suhuyini Esq. on Channel1 TV's 'The Big issue' show hosted by Umaru Sanda on the other hand, threw a carefully worded but blunt caution, especially to the NDC general secretary after assessing the implications of the party's position echoed by the general secretary. Though, emphasizing that it is his opinion, and not in the capacity as one of the brilliant and pleasant to listen to on the airwave’s communicator of the NDC, it was clear he spoke the minds of some in the party.

Hamza Suhuyini appeared and sounded concerned about the general secretary's way of communicating party related cautions, and I believe many in the NDC will strongly agree with him but cannot or may not openly voice their concerns in solidarity with his somewhat response to his party's general secretary respected by many in and outside the NDC.

Fiifi Kwetey and his team might have noticed signs of complacency within the party as they work to maintain their hold on power, particularly now that NDC appointees are being scrutinized by the opposition parties and Ghanaians. One can argue that he does not want them to fail in their services to Ghana and give their opponents grounds to even think about presenting themselves as a better alternative.

Hamza Suhuyini on the other hand seems to strongly believe in the vehicle that successfully drove them to the Jubilee House. A vehicle that would only have to be started and driven at any time when the time comes to embark on that same journey, and maybe with just a few reinforcements knowing how many of the party officers have built some working and winning campaign infrastructure around the sectors they were entrusted with, and successfully contributed to a victory that was never envisaged in terms of its overwhelming nature.

The question then is, did the advisors of the presidency not consider these concerns to adequately advise the president during his appointments? The president may have trusted their ability to manage multiple tasks and decided to appoint these important party officials, who led the campaign and countered the propaganda and misinformation directed at certain voters.

Was there a plan to not use them again as Fiifi Kwetey and team are pushing for, or that never crossed their minds until recently having wallowed in opposition for eight years to once again be in the realm of affairs as a ruling party?

If these statements are not part of a deliberate political strategy, it should have first been discussed internally with those affected and officially communicated to allow for proper preparation before being public. Announcing this may impact investor confidence in sectors led by these party officers. Investors who have trusted these party officers in their appointed roles may hold back with time sensitive investment deals. It may also boost investment when looked at in the context of full attention given to those sectors.

However, if the general secretary and team communicated the impending changes to the affected officers before coming out publicly, I believe they would have a solid team like the team that brought them to power, and joy to the people.

Otherwise, President Mahama's outstanding achievements could secure victory for them in the 2028 elections, regardless of their chosen flagbearer. However, certain well-regarded party executives, known for their exceptional performance, when replaced, the NDC may not have the assurance of winning an overwhelming number of seats in Parliament.

For Bawumia of 2028, with a running mate like Bryan Akyeampong and the homework of those to contest sitting NDC members of Parliament, may replicate the 8th Parliament's numerical divide if the NDC remain complacent and remove the people's people from the frontline.

If the NDC cares to know, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) may not die as many are wishing them to, nor will they be shy to overspend in 2028, knowing that the lenses of 2024 and January 31, 2026, have the tendency to turn electoral thumbs into cash and 'Momo' magnets to put the ballot box at risk in their favor if the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) does not sit up. So, the people’s people of NDC must not leave the front line.

I rest my PEN.
Mustapha Alhassan
Pennsylvania, USA.