The importance of political party congresses cannot be downplayed in any functional democracy. These events are healthy not only for the growth of intra-party activities but also to deepen internal democracy, as well as democratic governance.
It is in this vein, that political parties must be encouraged to hold annual delegates conferences and congresses where the highest governing body of the party not only meet to take crucial decisions and engage in serious business but assess their performance and elect new officers to steer the affairs of the political parties.
Top officials of other political persuasions also show up at congresses of other political parties to express their goodwill messages and in sharing the same platform the political leaders send signals to their supporters that members of other parties are not their enemies.
It is in this connection that we must all be interested in what political parties do and encourage them to abide by the rules of engagement.
Recently, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) successfully organised its national delegates conference in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, which was smooth, peaceful and orderly.
The much-talked-about conference, which attracted the top echelon of the party, was the toast of all as the NDC emerged more united and purposeful to prosecute its political and development agenda for the nation, as well as its bid to retain power in 2012.
And as the NPP also organises its conference today, it is the expectation of the party’s supporters that the party will become stronger after the conference.
It is the hope of the Daily Graphic that the leaders and supporters will avoid tendencies that are divisive, disruptive and not beneficial to the party’s collective interests and goals.
The supporters also hope that the so-called factions existing between Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Mr Alan Kwadjo Kyerematen will not be made to take centre stage during the conference meant to elect national officers. Delegates must realise that the task before them is bigger than individuals or personalities. Indeed, the conference is not a contest between Alan and Nana, but that delegates are expected to elect their leaders to run the affairs of the party for the next four years.
It behoves the delegates to elect leaders who have the capacity and capability to make the NPP attractive to its supporters and the entire Ghanaian electorate.
Internal democracy within a political party need not be a source of conflict, because in cases where some delegates are not willing to accept the verdict of the majority these conflicts affect the national polity.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, encourages all the political parties to use their conferences or congresses to deepen internal democracy and, by extension, strengthen the country’s governance system.
We must always remember that the constitution itself encourages internal democracy. That is why the Electoral Commission (EC) will not supervise the election of any presidential candidate of a political party if that party fails to go through the due process. After all, democracy is about the rule of law and people who are chosen for leadership positions must lead by example.
The Daily Graphic wishes the NPP a successful conference and may the best candidates win.
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