Internally Generated Distractions (Bickering And Wrangling) May Cause Doom And Electoral Defeat In 2016 A Plea To Immidiate Attention (Case Of The New Patriotic Party)

Intra –party politics is very vital and indispensable in any democratic political plurality state or nation. By intra party politics I mean the internal dynamics of a political party, decision making processes, hierarchical political structure (leadership),operationalization of binding measures ,constitutionalism as a practice and other democratic principles and norms that a party espouses.

Political parties are also major ingredients that spice up the whole flavor of a democratic state for the exception of certain democratic micro states in South America who operate without political parties (see vennedal 2013). I strongly believe that the 1992 republican constitution of Ghana makes provisions for the interplay of multiplicity of political parties and its internal organization (see article 55 of 1992 constitution).Even though in the de-facto analysis ,only two parties have dominated the scenes since the restoration and inception of the fourth republic. Intra party management and organization brings to light the external manifestation of the capabilities and strength of a political party, should the mandate of steering the affairs given electorally to them could deliver and manage the affairs of the country.

Again there is a competitive struggle for political power, so always political parties look for setbacks and shortcomings that exist in opposing parties, capitalize on theses crisis, set the propaganda agenda and attack the respective parties as such. However inside political parties (organizations), politics of conflict, opposing positions erect even though they are bound by the same ideology, diversity in terms of decision making, ethical perspectives and other personal differences are evident. But these kind of conflict should not be in the long run which will cause a total breakdown of the party.

The Danquah Busia tradition and property owing democracy that have been espoused over a long period of time gave and still gives meaning to the development in freedom political ideology and direction of the new patriotic party. The NPP through their stay in power have demonstrated a powerful and intelligent position as far as management, steering the affairs of the state is concerned from the year 2000 -2008.Developmental contributions and stabilization the economy during the Kuffour led administration cannot be overemphasized.

Internal wrangling and conflict have been part and parcel of the NPP since 1992.Analysing from the root the conflict that arise normally stem from primaries especially in the selection of a candidate for the party and other parliamentary canidates.In 2007, the ensuing conflict between the factions of Nana Akufo Addo and Alan Kyeremanteng was characterized with conflict which nearly burst the party along its seams. The contest effectively alienated the party’s support base and killed their interest. It unnecessarily espoused the party to NDC’S vile propaganda machinery for incessant criticisms. The NDC as a matter of fact benefited by winning the general elections narrowly as the NPP suffered from voter apathy (Boafo Ayeboafo 2010).

Also with respect to parliamentary primaries in Ablekuma north, there were discrepancies between the contestants. Whilst contesting for the okai koi south, Vicky bright contested the results of the polls as she lost by 12 votes, which led to an injunction which was placed on ablekuma north. At Ayawaso east constituency, anonymous men besieged one of the polling centers to demand for monies allegedly owed by one of the contestants party leaders even before the organization of the nationwide polls put on hold elections in 10 constituencies which ruffled some threats by the constituency executives to organize their own polls. The national executives failed to give them cogent reasons why the 10 constituencies were left out. These obviously created some misgivings in the party.

The chairman of conflict resolution committee of the party, Frema Osei Opare told joy news about the internal conflict and uprisings and provided assurance about an immediate resolution (myjoyonline 1 may 2011).

In 2005,the national vice chairman of the NPP, Mr. Ntim Stephen appealed to all party faithful not to allow internal fighting or misunderstanding to disintegrate the party ,which had taken so many years to build .He said they needed all members to stay in harmony in order to make the party grow from strength to strength. This means that from critical analysis internal bickering could be very deadly democratically. In 2012, NPP was weak in all the three northern regions,due to internal conflict that had occurred in the part.this however aside the external factor caused the party doom and defeat in the elections.

Currently,one of the major conflicts in the NPP stems and thus has its roots from the inability of Mr. Afoko and Mr. Agyepong to run the party effectively and thus has attracted compromise due to the unending conflict and recent votes of no confidence from a significant number of regional executives ,external branches ,the p[parliamentary caucus and other r key stakeholders of the party. One of the root cause of this bickering might have been the conditions that led to gruesome murder of the upper east NPP regional chairman, Adams Mahama, on the night of May 20 2015.Due to this and several other reasons there has been to a significant degree mistrust within the regional and national leadership with the two officers at the heart of it ,which require a full, competent and an unbiased investigation by an appropriate party committee. Due to the maximization of these conflicts the national chairman of the NPP has been suspended indefinitely. The decision was taken on Friday at an emergency national committee meeting at the party’s headquarters. The decision to suspend Mr.Afoko was unanimously taken by the NEC members present. (Myjoyonline.com 23^rd October 2015). Mr. Afoko has been accused by some party supporters of working against the flagbeare’s chances of winning 2016 elections. Following the issue of suspension, even before and after the meeting violent clashes were recorded at the headquarters of the NPP.The clashes were suspected to be between the party’s private security guards, the invincible forces and vigilante group purported to come from kasoa supporting the party’s beleaguered chairman. Mr. Paul Afoko upon hearing this news issued a press statement to describe the meeting as illegal.as part of the violent clashes, the bolgatanga bull dogs, another vigilante group supporting Mr. Afoko had threatened to causes mayhem at the party’s headquarters and disrupt any meeting that was scheduled earlier. (Myjoyonline.com 23^rd October 2015).

These and other internally generated distractions if care is not taken and given immediate attention will cause doom in the party render them politically unfit to wrestle power from the ruling NDC. I was completely astonished when the former director of the pro opposition policy think tanks, danquah institute, Gabby Otchere Darko, stated that the internal problems that have bedeviled the NPP may not have impacts on the party fortunes in the 2016 elections. To gabby Otchere Darko , I pose a question that ; HOW CAN A CONFLICT DISMANTLED AND DIVIDED POLITICAL PARTY WHOSE HIERACHICAL STRUCTURE IS QUESTIONABLE WRESTLE POLITICAL POWER FROM A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT,WIN AND CONTROL THE AFFAIRS OF A STATE ? Internal bickering may cause doom if an immediate attention is not given.

A PLEA: NPP has a crucial election in just a year against an awfully incompetent government which Ghanaians are yearning for the party to win in order to make Ghana work again and can’t afford to be saddled with these levels of internally generated distractions.(diaspora Canada NPP 2015). Nana Akuffo Addo should do his possible best to unite the rank and file of the party to wrestle power from the ruling NDC government. With this to be possible the internal wrangling must be resolved.

Also following Sammy Awukus statement as he cautioned the leaders of the party to ensure there is peace to avoid the escalation of tension within the NPP. Agin he urged the leaders to make an important sacrifice in the supreme interest of Ghana and the party. Again being circumspect in what they say about situation bearing in mind that any negative statements and actions could damage the cooperate image of the new patriotic party.

I strongly believe that the statement which was released by the party: STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ELDERS ON RECENT HAPPENINGS IN THE PARTY (visits citifmonline 22^nd august 2014) should be upheld in the greatest pedestal.

THE PEOPLE OF GHANA NEED A VERY FORMIDABLE ,WELL ORGANIZED AND STRONG POLITICAL PARTY(FORCE) TO WRESTLE POWER FROM THE INCOMPETENT RULLING NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC)(as empirical from their mode of delivery as far as steering affairs of the state is concerned).THE PEOPLE OF GHANA THROUGH THEIR GRIEVANCES CANT LIVE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BLIND GOVERNMENT IN INCUBENCY. SO CAREFUL AND IMMEDIATE ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE BICKERINGS, WRANGLINGS AND OTHER INTERNALLY GENERATED DISTRACTIONS, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE ASCEND THE POLITICAL THRONE COME 2016.

Readers shouldn’t stereotype and characterize this piece with partisanship….as a political scientist and a democrat I face political reality

OWUSU NSIAH ISAAC (POLITICAL STUDIES)
KNUST…. [email protected]...