The Volta regional chairman of the biggest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Henry Ametefe has started it once again that the volta Region will forever be the world bank of the NDC.
The Volta Regional Chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has concluded a one-day post-election 2020 retreat at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho.
The retreat organized by the Regional Secretariat under the auspices of the Volta NDC Parliamentary Caucus and the National Secretariat of the Party, the retreat sought to, among other things, review the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections to re-organize and re-strategize to re-capture political power come 2024.
Some notable party functionaries in attendance were Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Chairman, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, former Speaker of Parliament, Ambassador Dan Abodakpi, Chairman Volta NDC Council of Elders, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the 2020 Vice Presidential Candidate, National and Regional Executives, Constituency Chairpersons and Secretaries, Members of Parliament, Members of the Council of Elders, Political Committee Members, Representatives of Pro Forum, Cadres, former MPs, MDCEs, Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State and other appointees of the erstwhile NDC government.
The Party expresses its profound appreciation to our gallant Traditional Rulers, Artisans, Market Women, Youth Groups, Transport Unions, Organized Labour, Civil Society Groups, Okada Operators, Professional Bodies, and all and sundry for their massive support before, during, and after the last general elections.
We also appreciate media practitioners and security personnel who conducted themselves professionally before, during, and after the December 7th, 2020 polls to advance the cause of democracy in the country.
The overwhelming communal support received from the people culminated in the over Six Hundred Thousand votes for President Mahama and the 17 Parliamentary seats retained despite the brazen militarization and monetization of the polls, and its attendant vote-buying gimmicks, they said.
“Our Party takes strong exception to the government and EC’s infringement on the fundamental rights of the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) by denying them the right to participate in the Parliamentary elections for the Hohoe Constituency and, by extension, the right to representation in Ghana’s eighth Parliament”
The retreat urged the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Minority Caucus in Parliament NOT to accept any electoral reform proposed by the Jean Mensa/Bossman Asare-led Electoral Commission that may seek to ostensibly create an election-rigging one-party state.
“We extend our heartfelt condolence and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives during the last general elections, the party also sympathizes with our brothers and sisters along the borders and the coast who are sufferings the pangs of the twin devastations of the continuous closure of the borders as well as frequent tidal waves. We call on the government to, as a matter of urgency, open the land borders and extend the sea defense wall to protect the good people of Salakope, Adina, Agavedzi, Blekusu, and the surrounding communities from the perennial tidal waves”
They also commend their MPs for the social intervention programs they have embarked upon in their Constituencies i.e apprenticeship and skills training, Seed capital for women in petty trading, health screening, among the rest and encourage them to expand the program to cover majority of the people.
The operationalization of Constituency party offices is key and Constituencies who have their own party offices as well as those currently building one are highly commended.
The retreat also called for an urgent revival of the party’s welfare scheme at the Constituency level for the socio-political advancement of the people.
They hereby reiterated for the attention of all party members that the party has not officially opened nominations for parliamentary primaries. It’s therefore against the party’s code of conduct for any member to embark on any form of campaign at this time. Persons engaged in such anti-party behavior are duly cautioned; the party would not hesitate to apply the appropriate sanctions against anyone found culpable.
Peace, unity, and cohesion are paramount to the survival of the National Democratic Congress and its rescue mission to win the next presidential and parliamentary elections, they added.
Finally, all party members are encouraged to fully participate in the 2021 Population and Housing Census. “We strongly believe Ghanaians will derive the full benefits of the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) only when the NDC wins election 2024”
They however, caution those allegedly moving from house to house enquiring as to the nationality of people (asking whether they are Togolese or not) to put a stop to the said uninformed act.
By: Evans Manasseh
