Accra—Professor Evans Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says he is not backing any particular group or individual parliamentary aspirants, reaffirming that he is ready to work with any chosen candidate in the run up to this year’s elections.

“I have no chosen candidate, neither have I given anyone a flag to contest as a parliamentary candidate in the primaries,” Prof Mills told teeming supporters and local leaders of the NDC during his recent six-region campaign tour. Prof Mills’ statement comes in the wake of what has become a general problem plaguing all political parties, including the NDC and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the election of parliamentary candidates. In many of the instances, the struggle for parliamentary seats has not been without bickering and mudslinging as rivals try to outdo each other in order to win the electorate’s favour.

Reports are also rife about some local party leaders conniving with a few to bend the rules to favour preferred aspirants. Fully aware of the repercussion this could bring, Prof Mills was unambiguous about the NDC’s focus to adhere to laid-down procedures for electing candidates. “We are not going to tolerate the situation where any candidate or executive member would like to bend the rules,” he warned.

In as much as the Mills’ warning might have been expected, political watchers believe it takes a lot of courage and forthrightness for a leader to speak about the hurting truth in order to maintain a much-needed party unity. The NDC has always been an attractive Party that has won hearts with its social democratic credentials. No wonder, though in opposition, there is still a clamour for it. Yet despite the scale of enthusiasm and attractiveness, the Party has undeniably had to spent a great deal of energy and resources on dealing with internal dissent, which has soared in recent times, in the approach of the December vote. This is not good enough and must be addressed quickly. Prof Mills could not have put it any better, and I agree with him thus: “There could be only one candidate for each constituency so we must be more tolerant and quickly unite after the primaries in order to spend our energies on how to improve lives of the people.”

Frankly, competition per say is a good thing, but in a situation where the rivalry refuses to go, even after the event, must be a worry. As a friend put it the other time, the greatest achievement of a political leader is his or her ability to emancipate the electorate from poverty- give them the needed freedom, as well as improve their situations from ignorance to knowledge; from disease and squalor to good health and decent livelihood... in short, facilitate a qualitative life for the people. Fortunately for us, we have great names which have come from our own such as the Kwame Nkrumahs, and elsewhere the Martin Luther Kings, who at one point or the other, played their roles effectively for the benefit of humanity. Perhaps it was in this context that Catholic Bishop Paul Bamile of Wa told Prof Mills when he called on him that God chooses leaders at any given time to rule a nation.

Prof Mills had told the Bishop that he was praying for peaceful elections, and that he hopes whoever wins should be somebody who possesses the good leadership qualities and compassion for the people. “This is the basis for my slogan I care for you,” he added.

Similarly, I’d like to reiterate Bishop Bamile’s exhortation and to urge people aspiring to the various parliamentary slots on the ticket of the NDC to make it their watchword. There should be gracious losers who should be able to join the winner to celebrate a common victory for the Party.

As Prof Mills has rightly observed, each member of the Party has something unique to offer adding, “there are some who are smart organizers, some good public relations officers, and sometimes, good singers.” He called for unity and asked constituency leaders to be agents of change so that when power is won, they would be in the best position to fight for the welfare of their people. “The essence of governance is to seek the welfare of the citizenry”.

“Any government which greedily consumes the largest share of the nation’s resources, leaving peanuts for the large majority has no moral right to govern,” Prof Mills said bluntly, adding that his followers must be selfless. The need for Party unity, discipline and love among NDC members was reinforced by National Organiser Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo at all the meetings with local leaders.

He rightly reminded the rank and file that the NDC is better positioned to form a government in January 2009. His reason: “A party once in government and also has been in opposition, knows where the country’s development needs are.” Mr Ofosu-Ampofo again set the ball rolling at Nkwanta in the Volta Region, when he urged NDC aspirants to do healthy democratic politicking and be guided in their ambition. This, he hopes, will unite the Party. “Those deciding to go independent or severe relationship with the larger fraternity just because they did not win the primaries should not be considered as true democrats,” he warned.

The NDC Organiser believes that primaries should not be a do-and-die affair to the extent that failure to get majority approval should give cause to disintegration.

Let’s all agree to disagree. Author: Arnold Gudom