Story: Nana Sifa Twum - Manchester, England

The opposition Labour Party in the United Kingdom is to collaborate with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to establish an educational facility that will ensure the holistic political education for party members in Ghana.

The idea which was conceived by the NDC was adopted by its socialist sister party in the UK following a deliberation between some executive members of the party and the New Labour party Leader, Ed Milliband in Manchester during the just ended Labour Party conference.

The NDC delegation led by the General Secretary of the party, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, attended the conference at the invitation of the Labour Party.

In all 139 social democrat parties from the Europe, Latin America, Africa and Australia attended the five-day conference, which, among other things elected the party’s leader.

The much-known candidate David Milliband lost narrowly to his younger brother Ed Milliband, in the keenly contested election for the leader of the party.

Other members of the NDC delegation included Margaret Chiravira, Deputy Women’s’ Organiser of the party and Nana Owoahene Acheampong.

In an interaction with the UK media after the meeting which was described as very successful, a member of the delegation, Mr Kofi Atoh expressed delight at the outcome of the meeting saying “we discussed issues frankly and we have agreed on a number of important issues that would propel our great party to greater heights, and also would see the nation achieving its “better Ghana Agenda.”

He underscored the need for party members at all levels to be well-educated especially in the dynamics of politics, party aspirations and the role of a member in party and nation building.

“Our members need to know what they stand for, they need to know, understand and be able to explain our manifesto. And to engage in the vigorous membership drive we are embarking to entrench the party in power for a longer time”. Mr Atoh said

Mr Atoh did not disclose when the party school would start but hinted that “plans are far advance and when we start very soon, we will have to educate our ministers, members of Parliament, the cadres, party functionaries and, indeed, all stakeholders.”

He said the Labour Party would be assisting in the areas of lecturing, materials and other logistics and engage in exchange programmes.

He announced that an agreement had been reached with the Labour Party for exchange programmes that would benefit the two sides.

Later in separate interactions with some members of the Labour Party, they acknowledged the formidable might of the NDC and noted that they had a lot to learn from them.

“We are indeed glad to come into this relationship with the NDC of Ghana, we will have to learn their electioneering lesson and plan to redefine our role in opposition to be able to deliver to the people of the UK as a party in opposition. All these the NDC had passed the test and our belief is that they can be of immense benefit to us,” A senior Labour MP declared.

A Black Labour MP told the Daily Graphic in London that the party believed in what he termed as internationalism, and said Labour had always been connecting to the rest of the world through sisterhood party systems.

“Internationalism is our DNA and this will help us relate very well with the NDC,” she noted.