The Chief of Ho-Dome, Torgbui Adzinakle Howusu VII, has questioned the credibility of the Dr. Kwesi Botchwey report wondering if it indeed captured all the issues that led to the defeat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 general elections.

According to the traditional ruler, he found it so strange why Dr. Kwesi Botchwey-led Committee that was mandated to go round the country and investigate what led to the NDC’s defeat in the 2016 general elections went to the very people who created the problems and left behind those who really matter in the scheme of the umbrella family and have been on the grounds for years.

“I was asking some people that the NDC set up a Committee to go round the country to find out what happened – what was the problem. Surprisingly, they came to meet the same people who created the problem. What do you expect? They came to meet their executives and party leaders in the region and the country at large. What do you expect them to tell you? At least they should have consulted both executives and those outside. We are on the grounds. If they had met some of us we would have told them what went wrong”, he noted.

Torgbui Howusu VII made this observation, Thursday, in his welcome address when the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin who has declared his intention to contest for the vacant flagbearer position of the NDC paid a courtesy call on him together with some other Chiefs and asked for their blessings.

His comments were provoked by a brief by Hon. Bagbin who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli/Kaleo.

Neglect of traditional rulers

The longest-serving lawmaker in the country had stressed the neglect of traditional rulers and opinion leaders in the local governance system of the country and how he intends to reform that institution when given the mandate to govern the country.

What was more intriguing in his submission was the failure of the NDC government that was led by the former President, John Dramani Mahama to recognize those who sacrificed all their lives to ensure the party’s victory in both 2008 and 2012 general elections.

The neglect of such party faithful, he noted, was the root cause of the umbrella family’s woeful defeat in the 2016 general elections.

The NDC then led by President John Dramani Mahama polled 4,713,277 votes against 5,716,026 votes that was garnered by then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Dwindling fortunes of NDC

Torgbui Howusu VII commenting further said it pains him to see the fortunes of the NDC dwindling, stressing that if care is not taken, the Volta Region which used to be the world bank of the umbrella family will become “rural bank”.

He said once the forum was not meant to discuss what led to the NDC’s defeat in the 2016 elections, he could only hold his brief at least for now, and wait for another day when Hon. Bagbin calls on him again.

“This is not a forum to discuss this issue but if you really want to know what went wrong, please contact those on the grounds and they will tell you. We like our mothers; we sit down for all our children to suck our breast. So, from the other side we know what is happening. People tell us. Maybe, they may not all be useful to you but it will help you to get some ideas from what has happened”, he posited.

He went ahead to bless Hon. Bagbin and prayed to God to continue to guide his path as he seeks to lead the NDC into elections 2020.