Former Ashanti Regional Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Mohammed Sani has blamed the party’s disgraceful defeat at the December 7, 2016 polls to gross disrespect exhibited towards the party’s grassroots.

He observed that appointees at the time, felt they had reached their apex and therefore did not bother to cater for the grassroot voters who are kingmakers of the party resulting in discontentment among them, which led to the party’s abysmal performance at the polls.

“We are moving forward and not backwards. We all know what caused our defeat. Those who are owners of the party, the footsoldiers and branch members were disrespected so in protest they showed us our real size by voting us out. There were cracks in the building but we ignored the dangers and climbed onto the top of the weak structure with weak pillars and it crumbled”, he compared.

Alhaji Sani called on the rank and file of the party to rise up and rectify their flaws ahead of future elections because it is important they learn from their mistakes and find a different strategy to win the next election.

“It is the work of God and our own conduct that resulted in our defeat. This is the time for us to rise up and focus on the bigger picture and stop grieving. Even former President John Dramani Mahama who was the flagbearer of the party has put the defeat behind him and is focusing on the future" he explained.

According to him, the NDC party is a bigger party and staunch members must not abandon it at the crossroads.