Rejoinder: “NDC Group Wants Kwabena Adjei Out; Says He’s Failure”
We are usually reluctant to be responding to allegations against the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), who has successfully led the NDC to two consecutive political elections in Ghana and won.
Indeed, it is not the pathological attitude of Dr. Kwabena Adjei to be responding to, especially, planned and coordinated allegations that seek to question his leadership credentials and attack his persona.
The hidden truth is that such covertly coordinated attacks are rather the very sources of Dr. Kwabena Adjei’s strength as he undoubtedly proved to be the most successful, indefatigable national chairman that any political party would pay any price to have.
As usual, myjoyonline.com of March 9, 2014, carried a press statement of a group calling itself “Friends of Dan Abodakpi (FDA)” which described the incumbent National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Dr. Kwabena Adjei as a failure; and subsequently called for a new Chairman to “ensure cohesion between the party and the government”.
In the said press statement, ran the headline: “NDC group wants Kwabena Adjei Out; says he’s failure”. The group then proceded to name Ambassador, Dan Abodakpi as the one, who is much suited for the chairmanship position of the National Democratic Congress. Amazing?
Well, even though the headline contained an elementary grammatical blunder, which we are not attempting to edit, though, it’s making it difficult for one to really appreciate what was being portrayed and what appropriate response that is required, thereof.
Be it as it may, the group succeeded in explaining its intentions very clearly and we would, though, reluctant, proceed to respond to some of the issues.
Meanwhile, the question we want to ask is this: What is the ultimate goal of any political party? The unanswered answer, we presume, is to win political power. With this scale, elected leaders of such a political party, are expected to lead the party into elections and win such elections. This is the only legitimate means by which such leadership is qualified to seek the delegates’ mandate again.
If Dr. Kwabena Adjei has delivered the goods so expectant of him, as Chairman of the Party, what then should be the concern of any group to have described the National Chairman as a failure? What then was the group expected of Dr. Kwabena Adjei? To have led the Party into defeat, as other chairmen had done in other parties?
Not long ago, a similar group in Kumasi was reported to have issued a press statement, calling on Ambassador Dan Abodakpi to contest for the Chairmanship slot of the NDC, when nominations are open sometime this year. Similar concerns were alluded to for their call. The Central regional group is the second syndicate to have carried out such calls.
Again, sometime last year, an article was published on Ghanaweb with the headline: “Cracks in NDC”. In that said article, an impression was created by a group, calling itself “Young Democrats” that there were “deep cracks” in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The group accused Dr. Kwabena Adjei and Hon. Fiifi Kwettey of being responsible for the so-called cracks in the Party. Dr. Kwabena Adjei and Hon. Fiifi Kwettey were both alleged to have called on the NDC to share power with the NPP, even though no such calls were made, not even contemplated anywhere.
The Young Democrats in that press statement also named key personalities of the Party, whom Dr. Kwabena Adjei was accused of to have discriminated against.
We wish to put on records that as much as we respect the democratic rights of persons within the NDC to exercise those right anytime without fear, we are of the opinion that the expression of such democratic rights should be done within the remit of the Party’s cherished values; as these values includes sincerity and honesty.
We wish to remind the so-called friends of Dan Abodakpi that they ought to wake up to the realities. Dr. Kwabena Adjei cannot be described as a failure, when under his leadership, the NDC did not lose any national elections. On the contrary, Dr. Kwabena Adjei is the most successful party chairman in recent times as he has never conceded any defeat under his leadership.
Our advice to the group, commissioned or non-commissioned, is that the NDC, hitherto, had travelled very unfetted grounds of needless rancour. The Party is now well positioned to go into any elections chest out. Nothing should entice anybody, like these groups, to derail the progress the rank and file of the party has gallantly fought for.
It is our humble view that Ambassador Dan Abodakpi is a respected personality within the NDC family and his achievements and contribution to the Party over the years are well noted and should remain intact. Therefore, an uninformed group of such kind should be mindful of what their actions and inactions can do to persons of his stature, granted these calls are made at the blind side of him.
If Ambassador Abodakpi is not aware of such groups, we entreat him to call them to order as such moves would not serve any good.
Dr. Kwabena Adjei would continue to build cohesion within the party as required of him and would continue to diligently prepare the party for the 2016 general elections until the delegates decide otherwise at Congress. For now, the engagement of Dr. Kwabena Adjei is on the Party and His Excellency, the President John Dramani Mahama to win the 2016 as the longest served president under the forth Republic. This is the treasured legacy that Dr. Kwabena Adjei is so concerned about and focused on. He has his eyes on the ball and that should be the desire of the rank and file of our Great Party.
In fact, the delegates of the NDC gave Dr. Kwabena Adjei a mandate and he is mandated to account to them at the upcoming national Congress. A call by any group to oust him out of office is a total disregard for the delegates and the rank and file of the party gallant soldiers, who continue to sacrifice in the interest of the Party.
The tendency, where individuals or groups try to run down others for very covetly and parochial interest rather than the collective interest of our great Party should not be allowed. We should all be mindful of our individual actions and inactions, because the interest of the NDC as a party is supreme in all circumstances.
Let us cease fire everyone and rally behind His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to deliver the Better Ghana he promised the good people of Ghana. A promise he is so obsessed about and we all as party faithful must rally behind him to make it happen.
Long live NDC, long live Ghana and here comes 2016, let’s go for it!
Signed.
Jude Teye
Spokes Person
0542188603
Office of Dr. Kwabena Adjei
National Chairman, NDC