BCMA MCE: Who Wears The Crown, What Happens To Footsoldiers?

After the December 9 declaration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the 5th President of the 4th Republic of Ghana, many members of the New Patriotic Party have been lobbying for various forms of appointment in one form or the other.

With quite a number of appointments already done and with few days left for the Ghana@60 celebration, the race for who becomes the next Metropolitan, Municipal or District Chief executive is ripe at it peak.

When you come to the Birim Central Municipal Assembly alone, information available to me indicates that so far, about 6people have submitted their names to want to be given the opportunity to become the "small Presidents" of the municipality with about 8 others expected to submit theirs between today and Friday.

Some of the "wannabes" have turned to social media for massive campaign (as if Social media is the Council of State that will advise the President).

Supporters of some of the "hopefuls" have become Akufo-Addos who are making appointments mostly on Social media.

All of these are good and healthy for our Democracy, but a word of caution to the Constituency vetting panel that will be vetting these candidates, please note that after the NPP's lose in 2008, the party people believed that ex-president Kuffuor did a yeoman's job which should have propelled the NPP to a third therm straight win, however, they attributed their slim lose to arrogance of power, perception of corruption and most importantly NEGLECT of PARTY FOOTSOLDIERS.

Many party faithfuls believed that NPP appointees were just greedy, selfish and were not deserving to be where they were.

The NDC after 8yrs in power performed abysmally in the 2016 Election. Though they believe the "massive" work done in the field of infrastructure, should have helped them, they attribute their defeat to "NEGLECT OF PARTY FOOTSOLDIERS".

The issue here therefore is simple, you can be the best Government in history, provide everything the people need for them, yet immediately your party people begin to complain in a highly polarised Political country like ours, know that you are on your way out of the Jubilee/Flagstaff house.

This is the very reason why the vetting committee should recommend to the president a person whom the party youth and footsoldiers can easily associate with.

The current leadership of the NPP has the Ms. Ophelia Koomson story to guide them. From the very first time of her appointment under H.E. Prof. J.E.A. Mills(may his soul rest in peace), the woman never had support from her own party people and the people of the municipality. It is a known fact that after suffering defeat twice in the hands of the Assembly Members compelling then Eastern Regional Minister HON. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and the president to revoke the Appointment of all Government appointee Assembly members before she succeeded, she was the MCE who suffered most demonstration and press conferences from internally. It is also a known fact that it is not because the people hated her but because they had issues with her human relations.

Aside her own internal issues, she also had series of challenges with almost all identifiable groups in the Municipality including even the media. A group of party footsoldiers that was formed to rally support for her known as JOHN MAHAMA FUN CLUB within a twinkle of an eye started having challenges with her ( you can read my story, "John Mahama rejects Mills' girl). When President Mahama took over as president, there was a wild jubilation among the NDC in the Municipality and the "Agenda get Ophelia Out" resurfaced.

Fast forward, HON. Kwabena Nkansah Asare came into the system and was the darling "boy" of the NDC big wigs in the Municipality.

His calm nature, respect for people and open arms governance won him admiration from people and especially identifiable groups in the Municipality.

Not withstanding the support he enjoyed from the party big wigs and the people in the Municipality, the NDC performed abysmally in the Municipality with the NPP increasing its percentage vote from somewhere 62℅ to a whooping 75℅. As I try to understand what caused this, the monster "NEGLECT OF PARTY FOOTSOLDIERS" showed it head. The party footsoldiers attribute their lost in the general election and the lost of many NDC faithfuls during the District Assembly Election to him and claim he neglected the party footsoldiers.

Going forward, the NPP and espercially the Constituency Vetting committee for the MCE has a duty to present to the president a name of a person whom the party footsoldiers can easily relate with.

Someone whom the party youth can easily walk to his/her office and he will be ready to listen to them and console them even if s/he can't attend to all their needs.

Someone who will respond to the calls of the party youth and will always be ready for them.

Someone who is open to the media and is ready to employ the services of a press aid.

Someone, who will consult the party leadership 24/7 and above all some one who is development oriented and will show respect to the people.

Any other person other than such a person, the party will be digging their own grave and we shall all help to push them into it.

The writer is Student leader, Youth & Political Activist and a Journalist.

Kwasi Frimpong SayItRight
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