Whilst all political parties had suspended their campaign activities as a sign of respect for the late former Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) went on to hold political rallies across the country over the weekend.

The New Statesman can confirm that the NDC held three different rallies across the country in Kumasi and Accra, with loud music blurring from their campaign vans and as well as bussing people to the various rally points.

On Saturday, the NDC held one of its rallies near the office of the Ghana Meteorological Service at Mempeasem, behind the Trinity Theological Seminary. Hundred of the NDC supporters were seen clad in party paraphernalia at the grounds.

In Abuakwa, located in the environs of Kumasi, tens of Metro buses were seen at a rally ground waiting to convey hundreds of NDC supporters who had attended a rally in the town.

Dancing to NDC tunes, waving party paraphernalia on their way to the grounds, scores of NDC supporters were shamelessly seen in these buses. Similarly on Sunday at Adenta in Accra, the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for the Constituency, Ashie Moore launched his campaign ahead of the December 7 polls, hours after the funeral ceremony for late Alhaji Aliu Mahama had ended.

Ghanaians who spoke to the New Statesman after this development expressed disgust at the ruling party’s lack of respect for the Vice President.

They wondered why President Mahama, who had declared a five-day national mourning period, could not stop his followers from campaigning during this period.

It is recalled that following the death of the former President, John Evans Atta Mills, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, immediately suspended his campaign.

Subsequently, the National Chairman of the party directed all constituency and regional campaign activities to come to a halt, a directive which was adhered to by party activists.