We often hear some people say that those of us who complain about disunity in our party, the New Patriotic Party in Kwesimintsim, are making mountains out of molehills. We are told that we are only creating an imaginary problem purely to discredit a particular person. But is that really the case?
Let me tell you a story
Yesterday, we were at an event marking the burial of Lucas Dadzie, the late electoral area coordinator of Apremdo. Many of us sat together, as members of the NPP family. While we were observing the rites, Honourable Joe Mensah, our Member of Parliament arrived and was ushered in. As custom demands, he went round to greet those assembled, which he did but for one notable exception. Our MP, who represents all of us, pointedly refused to greet his own electoral area coordinators!
Now, some might excuse it as an oversight but this fits very neatly into the pattern we have seen since 2016 when he was elected to represent the party. Indeed, ahead of the constituency elections in 2018 Honourable Mensah specifically told delegates that he would refuse to work with any executives who were not his choice, should they be elected. In a democracy where choice and opinion are not to be limited, is that what we expect from our leader?
Take our national leadership. Among Nana Akufo Addo’s ministers and appointees are many men and women who have disagreed with him in the past. Some have even contested him for the very seat he is holding now. Yet, he continues to work with them. What does that tell you about the leadership we have in Kwesimintsim? Is it really an NPP leadership?
Even in this campaign where the MP is seeking votes, he still manages to divide people. We hear stories of people being ejected from meetings because “you are not one of us”. Who is this “us”? Are we not all NPP? How can we defeat the NDC when we cannot stand as one “us”?
Contrast that with the alternative we are presented with. When Dr Armah had presents for women on Mothers’ Day, he did not invite only those who support him, he gave it to everyone, including those who abuse him privately and publicly. When he set up his insurance scheme, he didn’t select some and leave others out, he put every single polling station executive and coordinator on it, including those who faked a voter card and held a press conference to tell the whole world he is a fraudster. When he gave out Christmas presents last year, he didn’t single out his supporters, he gave every single party official in Kwesimintsim, including those who are now seeking to undermine his bid through various underhand ways and means, including the spiritual.
Kwesimintsim can do better. Kwesimintsim has a better alternative
If you, like me and many others have been worried about the division of the last four years, then you must make that clear, come 20th June, 2020. We must say no to the division, the rancour and the abuse that have marked the last four years. We must usher in a new era where we are all one, where our leader spreads the benefits of membership to every single one of us. We need a leader who will acknowledge and give respect to even those who disagree with him.
On 20th June, Kwesimintsim NPP must change direction.
The writer is an Electoral Area Coordinator for Race Course for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Kwesimintsim Constituency of the Western Region.
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