The Managing Editor of the Al Hajj newspaper, Alhaji Iddrisu Bature has said the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) may lose the 2012 general elections if grassroots agitations persist.
According to him, apathy among grassroots of the ruling party is very rife and warned that the Mills’-led government could suffer the consequences in 2012 if nothing is done to address it.
Footsoldiers of the NDC descended heavily on the Mills-led administration because according to them, they felt slighted at the government’s inability to fulfill promises it made to them prior to the 2008 general elections.
Others also used violence and aggression to lock-out elected officials, party offices and influenced the dismissal of political office holders whom according to them were not working to expectation.
However, the footsoldier agitations appeared to have died down after the ruling party reached a consensus with them.
But speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Alhaji Bature revealed that the footsoldier agitations in the NDC is far from over.
He explained that, most of the footsoldiers who are involved in grassroots mobilization have threatened never to campaign for the ruling if their concerns are not addressed.
Alhaji Bature noted that the major contributing factor for the agitation is the continuous snub of the footsoldiers by some government appointees and their own Members of Parliament in their respective constituencies.
The NDC sympathizer said if stringent measures are not put in place to check the menace of the “Footsoldiers”, they would boycott the 2012 elections – something according to him could be very detrimental to the NDC’s hopes of retaining power.
Alhaji Bature stated that regardless of the enormous achievements chalked by the Mills-led administration, lack of recognition, respect, anger and apathy of the foot soldiers could cause party’s defeat in 2012.
On his part, the National Organiser of the NDC, Yaw Boateng Gyan conceded that they party is facing some challenges with foot soldiers.
According to him, even though the party has made several efforts to train them in an effective and efficient manner, the foot soldiers have failed to co-corporate.
Yaw Boateng Gyan added the NDC would not relent in its effort to address all the concerns before next year’s elections.