Instead of condemning Mahama and the NDC’S “Unity Walk” Agenda…

Folks much exists for me to say outright that the recourse to “Unity Walks” by the NDC is laudable and should be supported and not condemned. As part of its agenda to rejuvenate itself, the NDC chose this mechanism and has purposefully used it all this while to make itself visible on the political landscape as a threat to the NPP and its wishy-washy government led by the cowardly and insufferable hypocrites damning Mahama's agenda for national development but unconscionably tapping into it to validate themselves in power.

I highly commend the brains behind this “Unity Walk” agenda for their innovation and foresight in creating the avenue for the NDC to remain vibrant. Never before has it occurred in Ghana's constitutional democracy that a party kicked out of office would make its presence felt through such a medium. The records have it that such parties defeated at the polls either settled in the doldrums to await the major electioneering campaign period to re-surface or to use their Parliamentarians to sing their song. Not so this time with the NDC.

When it lost Elections 2000 and 2004, it never kicked dust in opposition to endanger the Kufuor administration as it is doing now to undercut the Akufo-Addo regime. The various versions of the “Unity Walk” so far enacted have given us much to hear and see, if not know, about how the NDC is doing things instead of folding up and looking up to its MP's to take on this lame-duck administration.

The impression is positive, regardless of the negative comments from opponents. In any case, being the first of its kind, the “Unity Walk” may have its lapses as is evident from complaints by anti-Mahama elements that he is using the forum to whip up support for his ambition to lead the NDC at Election 2020. Those critical on that score have been quick to dismiss Mahama as an opportunist. They have even read negative meanings into the “Unity Walk” to suggest that it is dividing the ranks of the party instead of patching them to give it a strong front to fight the NPP.

I pity such elements and wish that they would listen to reason. The “Unity Walk” is meant primarily as a means to keep the party alive, no matter whatever else it entails. As such, accepting it and participating in it should be the clarion call to be obeyed. I don't see anything wrong about it for as long as it helps bring the party's supporters and sympathizers together to keep alive the spirit of the party.

It is clear from what has happened thus far that those nursing ambitions to contest the flagbearer position have either condemned it just because they see it as an avenue monopolized by Mahama or because they just don't know how to adapt to the situation. They are making all kinds of ugly noise to that effect, which irritates me.

Once it is clear that the “Unity Walk” is to keep the NDC alive and vibrant on the political scene, it shouldn't be difficult for all its genuine and committed members at all levels to participate in it. Standing aloof and pointing gossipping fingers won't make the kind of inroads that characters such as Joshua Alabi, Alban Bagbin, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and Sylvester Mensah are looking for in their bid to outshine Mahama and win the hearts/thumbs of the NDC delegates who will choose the party's flagbearer for Election 2020.

I think that the ugly noise issuing forth from them rather dents their image and erodes their credibility. It isn't too late for them to join the fold to make their presence felt. Only then will they be adding value to themselves.

What won't be admired if all these interested parties see the party as their home and join hands to advance its cause, using this forum for that purpose instead of recruiting ill-informed characters to use social media for nothing but misguided personal attacks on Mahama as if without him the NDC can't survive? By choosing such cheap means to do internal politics, they come across as unfit for the position that they have set their eyes on.

And just before we forget, let it be said loudly and clearly that the “Unity Walk” provides the most potent ammunition with which to attack the NPP and its wobbling government. So far, anything coming from Mahama during the “Unity Walk” jolts that Danquah-Busia camp. We take note of the Kumasi version and what Mahama said, which is now tearing them apart to the extent that they are all over the place, either insulting him (which makes them come across as childish and politically immature) or struggling to contain the impact of his rhetorical punch.

The truth is that the forum provided by the “Unity Walk” gives the NDC a stronger hold on communicating its messages than the traditional Ghanaian mass media offer. It is no lie to say that the NDC hasn't had a good relationship with such media. Now that the “Unity Walk” can give it an alternative medium to hit hard at the NPP, it should go for it.

Folks much exists for me to say outright that the recourse to “Unity Walks” by the NDC is laudable and should be supported and not condemned. As part of its agenda to rejuvenate itself, the NDC chose this mechanism and has purposefully used it all this while to make itself visible on the political landscape as a threat to the NPP and its wishy-washy government led by the cowardly and insufferable hypocrites damning Mahama's agenda for national development but unconscionably tapping into it to validate themselves in power.

I highly commend the brains behind this “Unity Walk” agenda for their innovation and foresight in creating the avenue for the NDC to remain vibrant. Never before has it occurred in Ghana's constitutional democracy that a party kicked out of office would make its presence felt through such a medium. The records have it that such parties defeated at the polls either settled in the doldrums to await the major electioneering campaign period to re-surface or to use their Parliamentarians to sing their song. Not so this time with the NDC.

When it lost Elections 2000 and 2004, it never kicked dust in opposition to endanger the Kufuor administration as it is doing now to undercut the Akufo-Addo regime. The various versions of the “Unity Walk” so far enacted have given us much to hear and see, if not know, about how the NDC is doing things instead of folding up and looking up to its MP's to take on this lame-duck administration.

The impression is positive, regardless of the negative comments from opponents. In any case, being the first of its kind, the “Unity Walk” may have its lapses as is evident from complaints by anti-Mahama elements that he is using the forum to whip up support for his ambition to lead the NDC at Election 2020. Those critical on that score have been quick to dismiss Mahama as an opportunist. They have even read negative meanings into the “Unity Walk” to suggest that it is dividing the ranks of the party instead of patching them to give it a strong front to fight the NPP.

I pity such elements and wish that they would listen to reason. The “Unity Walk” is meant primarily as a means to keep the party alive, no matter whatever else it entails. As such, accepting it and participating in it should be the clarion call to be obeyed. I don't see anything wrong about it for as long as it helps bring the party's supporters and sympathizers together to keep alive the spirit of the party.

It is clear from what has happened thus far that those nursing ambitions to contest the flagbearer position have either condemned it just because they see it as an avenue monopolized by Mahama or because they just don't know how to adapt to the situation. They are making all kinds of ugly noise to that effect, which irritates me.

Once it is clear that the “Unity Walk” is to keep the NDC alive and vibrant on the political scene, it shouldn't be difficult for all its genuine and committed members at all levels to participate in it. Standing aloof and pointing gossipping fingers won't make the kind of inroads that characters such as Joshua Alabi, Alban Bagbin, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and Sylvester Mensah are looking for in their bid to outshine Mahama and win the hearts/thumbs of the NDC delegates who will choose the party's flagbearer for Election 2020.

I think that the ugly noise issuing forth from them rather dents their image and erodes their credibility. It isn't too late for them to join the fold to make their presence felt. Only then will they be adding value to themselves.

What won't be admired if all these interested parties see the party as their home and join hands to advance its cause, using this forum for that purpose instead of recruiting ill-informed characters to use social media for nothing but misguided personal attacks on Mahama as if without him the NDC can't survive? By choosing such cheap means to do internal politics, they come across as unfit for the position that they have set their eyes on.

And just before we forget, let it be said loudly and clearly that the “Unity Walk” provides the most potent ammunition with which to attack the NPP and its wobbling government. So far, anything coming from Mahama during the “Unity Walk” jolts that Danquah-Busia camp. We take note of the Kumasi version and what Mahama said, which is now tearing them apart to the extent that they are all over the place, either insulting him (which makes them come across as childish and politically immature) or struggling to contain the impact of his rhetorical punch.

The truth is that the forum provided by the “Unity Walk” gives the NDC a stronger hold on communicating its messages than the traditional Ghanaian mass media offer. It is no lie to say that the NDC hasn't had a good relationship with such media. Now that the “Unity Walk” can give it an alternative medium to hit hard at the NPP, it should go for it.

It doesn't really matter whether it is Mahama who is sponsoring it. What matters is that it has given the NDC the space it needs to remain vibrant and energetic in its political mobilization drive. What happened in Tarkwa and Kumasi is eye-opening and should be capitalized on to put more heat at the backside of this useless Akufo-Addo government. (Isn't it funny that the NPP has also resorted to its own kind of “Unity Walk”, starting in a part of Accra as reported?. If the “Unity Walk” were bad, why would they use it too? Fire burn them all.)

Folks, I am guided by happenings on the political landscape and the manner in which the NDC should uplift its political manouevres in opposition. Contrary to expectation, its use of the “Unity Walk” initiative is effective and must be pursued relentlessly. That is why I urge all those with petty negative feelings to see things above the surface and embrace it.

I have spoken…

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

E-mail: [email protected]

May 1, 2018