Is it plain cowardice? Political burnout? An ominous symptom of an incapacitating fatigue? Is it a manifestation of a collective mindset of timidity, or perhaps a terrifying streak of indecision? Whatever it is, I am perturbed by the shocking display of paralysis by the NPP and the other opposition political parties in articulating a tangible political alternative that inspires, motivates and gives opportunity to the majority of Ghanaians -- an alternative that forcefully speaks to the aspirations of millions of Ghanaians while exposing NDC’s political amateurism and the cruel reality of the politics bereft of intellectual heft.
I cannot bring myself to understand how a seasoned political party claimed to be populated with intellectual firepower, legal luminaries, reputable technocrats and men and women of noble qualities and excellence-- the very crème de la crème of Ghana’s best-- can be dodged by this uncertain hesitation to mount up a credible challenge against the current marauding pursuit of wanton dishonesty; the sort that is hell-bent on making Ghana a hostage of disastrous political adventurism and unbridled opportunism.
While the ever blundering, bumbling black-palm experimenter and his stuck-in-the-past brigade dramatize their gross incompetence on the national stage, the NPP, like a bunch of hibernating bears, seem to be possessed by a stubborn demon of slumber. In this self-imposed comatose suspense, the main opposition party is displaying classical signs of fatigue. The NPP can not, must not and should not fail to thrive particularly at a critical moment when Ghanaians are searching for a way out of the prevailing hopelessness.
As the NDC obtusely prances around hogging the limelight, and continues to ceaselessly sprout ignorance and superficiality, The NPP appears to have settled for the quintessential Ghanaian Kumbaya solace, from where they seem to view their impotent restraint as a dignified alternative to the NDC’s penchant for making unsubstantiated sweeping claims and wild accusations about every thing under the heaven.
The recent mess of the district assembly elections served by the Electoral commission (EC) is an example in context. Instead of the NPP demanding strongly that the EC keeps to the reasonably well-developed pattern they have practised over the years, the party said little to nothing about the fiasco. This lackadaisical defence of what is essentially a fundamental part of our democratic order says a lot about the misplaced priorities of the NPP. To me if the opposition is not able to mobilise and fight for what is right and proper at the local level then, their capacity to muster a bigger courage to do so at the national level is suspect.
The ruling party is clearly taking notes of these glaring weaknesses of the NPP and come 2012 they will very well know how to take advantage of these blunders and mount a political campaign that the NPP won’t be in a position to match.
It is plain and clear that without a well-defined strategy that enables the NPP brand to continuously project and position a unique political proposition in the minds and hearts of Ghanaians, the party should forget about winning the 2012 general elections. The NPP must disabuse their collective mind of the false view that the Mills regime amounts to a mere cheerleading interlude, a prelude, to the main expectations of Ghanaians -- NPP’s glorious victory in 2012.
It is my firm belief that the NPP can not dislodge the NDC in 2012 without an attack strategy. The party requires a sacred commitment to implementing a competitive strategy as a tool to capturing the largest share of minds, hearts and the electoral market. An encirclement attack or a flanking strategy which ensures that every segment of the electoral map is rigorously fought for is the trick. Intermittent press conferences and occasional speeches here and there will not do it. The mission must be “No territory should be left behind”.
Our political culture can only thrive through the injection of a strong dose of sanity in the form of strategic pursuits that captures the imagination of most Ghanaians. The opposition should be careful not to allow itself to be reduced to something that merely exists to react to the nauseating empty rhetoric emanating from the other corner.
To the NPP family and to Nana Akuffo Addo in particular, take the initiative. Let your forceful voice of reason sound across the land.
Ghana deserves better.
