And Others

I write to convey the disenchantment of members of the Banana Inn Branch of the NDC about certain developments within the party at both ward and constituency levels. I am urged into haste because the situation is not isolated, and has become a party wide complain.

It will be recalled that in May 2007, two founding members of the aforementioned branch conducted a quasi study at Banana Inn and the wider constituency to determine the vibrancy of the party at all levels within the constituency. The results indicated that the party was almost dormant within the constituency. This was against the backdrop of the growing strength of the NPP in the dissemination of its messages and attempts by its activist to ensure, through financial motivations such as loans and grants and other unconventional means, that the NDC never get heard or mobilize effectively.

It is in the light of the need to educate, inform, and respond speedily to some of the aforementioned propagandist maneuvers of the NPP within the South Ablekuma Constituency and beyond that the New Banana Inn Branch of the Party was formed. It is worth noting that this was done in consultation with the constituency organizer, the propaganda secretary, other stakeholders of note, and prominent opinion leaders within the community, especially when there was continuous bickering and agitation among the constituency leadership which concomitantly affected mobilization of branches and wards, leaving party organization at all levels within the constituency in disarray.

Through the tactfulness, ingenuity, and commitment of the aforementioned founding members, later on aided by four others, series of meetings were held, starting from April 2007 culminating in a grand formation which was attended by personalities such as Aboni (leader of the cadres), Fritz Baffour, MP (then a member), three representatives of Hon. Victor Gbeho, Constituency Organizer, Propaganda Secretary and other prominent community members.

Apart from the weekly meetings, held constantly with minutes to attest to discussions to rebut the propaganda of the ruling NPP and inform party rank and file on issues pertaining to party activities and policies, seven important events lend credence to the important role the New Banana Inn branch of the NDC has played and continuous to play in making the party visible within the constituency. The organization of a well attended “mini rally” which was attended and addressed by the then candidate Fritz Baffour, Kobe Acheampong, now deputy minister for tourism; mobilization of party members and the reading of a speech to welcome the then candidate Professor John Evans Attah Mills when he arrived at Banana Inn at the commencement of his house-to-house campaign, especially without the constituency leadership; mobilization of 50 members to monitor the “limited voter registration exercise” within the constituency; clean-up exercise and donation of items worth millions of cedis to the Mamprobi Polyclinic (August 2008); mobilization of over 200 members and supporters to police the ballot boxes during the December 2008 general elections; mobilization of buses to convey party members to Tain to protect the ballot boxes, and, organization of a victory party attended by Fritz Baffour, MP South Ablekuma and Theophilus Chaie, MP Central Ablekuma. It is gratifying to note that these activities were media events which were solely sponsored by the branch through monthly dues and donations by members, without a dime from the then candidate Fritz Baffour.

Now after all this show of tenacity of purpose and commitment in the face of many challenges, especially when some would not like to even show their faces to be identified with the party because they were not sure the NDC was a winning party, some members of the constituency executives now have the moral authority to proclaim they do not recognize the New Banana Inn branch of the NDC at the demise of the women organizer of the Ablekuma South Constituency with an impending bye-election and other elections that may follow in which they fear the obvious.

Fritz Baffour who benefitted immensely from the able organizational abilities of the officers who man this branch and could now step his foot down and make sure that the right things are done to ensure the unity of the party, has also now become a demi-god and unapproachable, simply because he is now a member of parliament with mammoth duties taking all his time.

Looking at the dramatic turn of events whereby people like Fritz Baffour have suddenly become so self-conceited that the common decorum of receiving a call and returning a call of party officers he worked with during the campaign tantamount to a reduction in his newly acquired social standing. And when he even does, then one must be prepared for the verbal hazing or the tongue lashing. Fritz should be aware that this attitude is not only detrimental to his political career, but to the party as well.

What has happened to him and his campaign manager, the outboard motor mechanic at Chorkor who expended his resources in diverse ways to ensure he was victorious? What has happened to even the fifty Ghana cedis he promised the branch at the victory party which he attended, where food and drinks were served without a dime from him? Does he understand the parliamentary processes which require him to consult his constituents in building a consensus on issues before making decisions? Or he thinks he can just mobilize a jersey and a football and start sharing to all communities within the constituency irrespective of their peculiar needs and that is what his duty is as an MP?

Fritz Baffour should be reminded about the age-old maxim, which I am sure is easily available in all Ghanaian languages to the effect that “you have to finish crossing the river before you call the crocodile by its long jaws.”

From the foregoing, the branch wishes to know from the national executives if there is any other way a people could show their commitment to a political party than the chronology of events catalogued.

The branch also wishes to inquire from the constituency chairman what, in his estimation, he thinks he was up to when he endorsed the membership cards of the members of the New Banana Inn branch of the party?

He should further tally and compare the activities of all the branches and wards within the South Ablekuma Constituency to find out if there is any ward within the South Ablekuma Constituency which could measure up to what the New Banana Inn branch of the party has been able to achieve within its short time of existence, what it stands for, and what the party stands to gain from the organizational abilities or competence of its able leadership.

The parliamentarian for South Ablekuma Constituency, Fritz Baffour, should, if he is aware of these developments, take steps to diffuse the tension that is gradually building up for the sake of the unity of the party. If people’s memories are frail and they fail to remember the past, let us point out to them that it took delegates of the branch to vote and also lobby others to vote for the then candidate to secure a win in the primaries. That fact is not loss on us and anyone who attempts to disenfranchise any member of this branch in any constituency activity should be ready to quash results of elections and other activities either initiated by the branch or the constituency in which the branch played a role.

Finally, it should be clear at this point that any attempt to play the “dog eat dog” will be resisted from within. We as a branch will not succumb to the pettiness and the bickering that is gradually raising its ugly head again within the constituency. We should identify new talents and potentials and harness them to the growth of the party.

To Fritz, we will not wait until the end of the four years to remove him through the ballot box. With a united front, we will confront you and make sure you do the rights things. The days when politicians antagonize their constituents and, therefore, become islands unto themselves living and dining in the name of the people they antagonize, so they have no opportunity to get closer to question their activities are over. With a united front, we shall confront any situation immediately; we will not wait for four years to get you out if need be.

James Kpeglo New Banana Inn Branch of the NDC Accra Jimmy_kpeg@yahoo.com