The emergence of a new political party (Ghana National Party) has come at the right moment when corruption allegations are mounting on the footsteps of the two major political parties in Ghana (NPP and NDC). The Ofori-Ampofo led GNP; also labeled the “Diaspora Party” is spearheading a campaign on abuse of privileges by government officials. Such a discussion is long overdue given the country’s scarce resources and competing financial demands for health, education and other services.
On paper, the GNP which was formed by Ghanaians in overseas should have a strong support base from diasporans. The party should be cashed up through contributions from our overseas based brothers and sisters who help keep the economy of Ghana afloat with their contributions to family and friends, involvement with the expansion of the housing sector in Ghana and participation in job creation investments. In fact the chronicle in its article “Ghanaians abroad to hijack 2008 elections” cites that its “international sources have come through with unimpeachable information to the effect that a large pool of well-resourced and politically experienced Ghanaians in the diaspora are done with a deal to come out with a new political party”. The GNP has been inviting Ghanaians, especially those in the diaspora interested in moving back home and interested in serving their country in any capacity, to register and join them. However, I have had the privilege of hearing from a cross section of Ghanaians at home and overseas after my first article on the GNP. It has become clear that the GNP faces tremendous challenges to overcome the ‘small party” syndrome that has characterised some political parties in Ghana. A summary of the issues are:
(1) Lack of a well coordinated marketing strategy culminating in enquiries from overseas based Ghanaians in the UK, USA, Italy, Germany and other countries expressing lack of knowledge of the existence of a “Diaspora party” in the name of GNP. (2) Lack of trust among Ghanaians in the diaspora. One correspondent cited the collapse of many diaspora investment initiatives as a result of backbiting and lack of implementation consensus. (3) Lack of community visibility in some of the places of residence by some of the core members of the GNP. One correspondent was very forceful in expressing concerns of putting Ghana in the hands of people who purport to have all the answers to the country’s problems but do not show any willingness to show any leadership in the communities they live. (4) Unwillingness of some of the GNP faithful to settle permanently in Ghana. (5) Perceived academics emanating from the NPP, NDC and CPP who think it is their time to take over the governance of the country and use their overseas acquired skills to solve Ghana’s problems. The issue raised by a correspondent is that the NPP paraded Professors and PhDs who after six years in government, are still struggling to create the jobs they promised.
While some of these reasons given by our overseas based brothers and sisters have some merits, the GNP needs time to put its marketing structures in place. It takes sacrifices, discipline and commitment to put in the structures of a political party so the GNP should be given credit for getting to the stage of a registered political party status ready to battle it out with the NPP, NDC, CPP etc. The party should also be given credit for its stance on ROPAL. Providing essential services in health, education, water, electricity should take priority over funds allocation to the implementation of ROPAL in 2008. The Electoral Commission should rather commence the process of establishing the necessary framework for a 2012 implementation.
Apart from the lack of broad diasporan support for the GNP, the party faces another challenge of acceptance by Ghanaians at home. The allegations against some diasporans who have joined political parties in Ghana have compounded the problem for the GNP. After a reasonably good performance by Ghana’s former Deputy Minister for Trade, Mr. Kofi Ameyaw Osei, it was revealed by the Ghanaian Press that the former Australian based Ghanaian had been pronounced guilty for fraud and professional misconduct in Australia. The embarrassment caused to the NPP Government was immense and in the process he lost his Deputy Ministerial position. Then there was the Akwasi Prempeh dual citizenship saga that led to the President’s withdrawal of his nomination for Deputy Ashanti Region Minister. As if these two issues, coupled with the Amoateng saga were enough to let the NPP Government concentrate on the energy crises and other issues affecting Ghanaians, another looming political disaster is emerging in the name of the MP for Upper Denkyira, Nana Amoako, who is accused of stealing more than one million dollars from Fone-A-Car Limousine Company and two of its lenders from 2002 to 2005.
While Nana Amoako is innocent until proven guilty, this is a public relations disaster not only for the NPP but for the GNP in particular which was formed by overseas based Ghanaians. Are we going to be able to trust our overseas based brothers and sisters to come home and represent our interests in Parliament with clean records from their previous jobs? While some who came home are serving Ghana with distinction, the small minority can create credibility problems for the GNP. The GNP marketing effort will have to be accelerated if it has any chance of winning any seats in 2008.
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