CONDUCT PEACEFUL CONGRESS (FEB 16, 2010)

THE ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) takes a major step towards its efforts at consolidating power in 2012 with the holding of its national delegates congress in the Northern Regional capital of Tamale.
The congress is being held at a time when disagreements over the direction of the government have created a semblance of division in the party.
As is to be expected, the teeming supporters of the NDC and Ghanaians at large expected the Mills administration to deliver the better Ghana agenda early in its four-year mandate.
The challenges confronting the ruling party right from the time it assumed the reins of power are not an indication of a failed administration. They are only a manifestation of the normal challenges that confront a growing democracy such as our fledging participatory governance system.
What is happening in the NDC should not be seen as a crack in the ranks of the party.
A party with a large following such as the NDC cannot manage its affairs based on a consensual approach. The members can only agree without being disagreeable.
Listening to the 65 candidates seeking positions in the party, the common theme emerging in their messages to their supporters is a call on the delegates to make the right choices to give a head start to the NDC to retain power in 2012.
Sometimes those who are not supporters of a particular political party are indifferent towards the goings-on in other parties or wish those parties hard times, but that development will not help nurture our multi-party democracy.
There is no way democracy can endure in our country without vibrant political parties. One of the key drivers of good governance is the existence of political parties. As students of democracy, Ghanaians should not only be interested in the formation of political parties but also encourage the parties to grow, contest elections and even form forces to provide alternatives to ruling governments.
Instead of mauling those who suggest alternatives to strengthening internal democracy in the political parties, the leaders should work harder to restore the parties to the ideals of their founding fathers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that all the candidates seeking office in the NDC mean well; perhaps the only difference is the approach to attain the goal of building a strong political party that can retain power in 2012.
We hope the party leaders and the delegates will use the unique opportunity of the congress to identify specific challenges and address them for the effective management of the NDC as the ruling party focused to deliver on its manifesto pledges.
Voters are keenly watching developments in Tamale and the NDC will be better off if it avoids the pitfalls of its past congresses.
Although it is its own internal party affair, Ghanaians expect the ruling NDC to use the congress to reshape certain national issues, such as economic development, gender, employment creation and youth policies in relation to governance, anti-corruption and the delivery of the government’s mandate.
We do not want to believe that there will be no fireworks at the Tamale congress. All the candidates will present their positions on the direction of the party very forcefully.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, however, calls on all of them to impress upon their supporters to be civil in canvassing for votes at the grounds of the congress so that they do not incur the wrath of their opponents.
The party supporters know too well that a peaceful congress will determine the strength and direction of the party and they dare not fail by plunging the congress into violence, for the NDC is bigger than any individual.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for calm and wishes the NDC a successful congress in Tamale. May the best candidates emerge victorious.