Why The National Democratic Congress Lack Potentials For Flagbearer From The Volta Region

Before reading, note that this is an open-minded opinion piece and, like all opinion pieces, it may have shortcomings. This does not, however, take away from the substance of the issues discussed.

The struggle for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate is in earnest. We have heard names flying around. Whilst there is no official declaration to contest for obvious reasons, the names in the public domain remain the major contenders for the flagbearership race. Conspicuously missing is a name from the Volta Region among the candidates. Have you heard any? Well, I stand to be corrected.

Are you surprised that despite being the stronghold of the National Democratic Congress, Volta Region seems not to be providing viable candidate from the Volta Region after His Excellency Flt. Lt Jerry John Rawlings of blessed memory? Well, I am not.

I have had the opportunity to travel across most of the regions in Ghana regarding National Democratic Congress politics. One thing that is very clear is that whilst most of the National Democratic Congress leaders from the Volta Region eye the presidency, they clack the ability to take strategic decisions that would make them viable candidates for flagbearership. This is not to impugn incompetence in them but rather an absolute lack of foresight or perhaps a disregard for the same.

The members of Parliament, ministers, and government appointees from the Volta Region, past and present and perhaps in the future, suffer from the messiah complex. They are so enamoured by their positions and appointments that they lack or refuse to think about their future and their progression in the political arena. They refuse or perhaps are ignorant of investing in human capital within the party that will serve as their anchor to higher levels within and outside the party.

Do not misunderstand me; I am not saying that Volta National Democratic Congress leaders do not help their constituents. Far from it. They help in their own ways like leaders of the party from any other Region. But you see, I am not talking about sharing rice and oil during festive occasions; I am not talking about dashing money to a few bloggers and constituents for media attention; I am not talking about sharing a laptop with a few teachers in the full glare of the media to gain attention. I am not speaking of empty slogans and touting of useless achievements.

I speak of real investment in people, securing opportunities in the military, police, prisons, air force, among others for constituents. I speak of supporting constituents to contest for National positions within the party, with the ripple effect of establishing a solid base for their own support within the party. This is what they lack. How many people from the Volta Region are National officers of the National Democratic Congress? Of course I know of Hon. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, but he carved his own path long ago. I speak of deliberate effort to improve one's chances by investing in others. This is a language that is alien to most of the leaders in the National Democratic Congress from the Volta Region. They prefer divisive strategies that pit their ignorant followers against others with divergent opinions. They are interested in appearing in the media with an inflated ego that portrays them as National heroes fighting a good cause when, in fact, they lack the home support that would project them nationally. They wallow in sincere ignorance, collecting their salaries, appearing in flamboyant attire, seeking to catch undeserved attention. At best, they feed the bloggers and when they are tired, and the money stop flowing as always, the bloggers move to their next victim.

In the discourse of who becomes the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress or who is appointed to the gender of Agriculture ministry, they stand aloof, hoping that a miracle will happen that would put their names on those lists, forgetting that such mage Miracles are long gone. In the post modern era, we create our own Miracles by taking strategic decision, not with fanciful thoughts and communist inferior tactics that divide support base.

I am not yet done with the Volta National Democratic Congress leadership. They impoverish their own constituents, with the rather awkward thought of controlling them. They have long forgotten that by pushing their home supporters to the doldrums, they dig the grave to their progress within and outside the party, there by committing what can best be described as political suicide. They collect their salaries as members of Parliament, ministers of state and government appointees and when their term of office ends, they die in poverty and penury.

Some, of course the ones that are daring enough nurse the idea of becoming a flagbear one day, but you see, that wishful thinking borne out of desire rather than critical thought and strategic decisions. It would not happen. Things don't happen in a vacuum. Things happen when you take action and decisions.

In the Eastern Region for example, the story is quite different. People who seek progression in politics take strategic decisions, starting by acclamatising themselves with the grassroots of the party, identifying their needs and most importantly, investing in the people. I mean real investmentment. They understand this and do it with the required vim and verve. This is why you are likely to see most all National Democratic Congress members from the Eastern Region support candidates wholeheartedly who are from the Region. The home support is solid because they take strategic decisions.

This is not the era of prophecies, but I can tell you that unless the Volta National Democratic Congress come together and do what must be done, they are doomed.