A Political Strategist with the University of Ghana, Dr. Kobby Mensah, has described as wrongly targeted the proposal by some members of the NPP to elect the party’s flagbearer two years ahead of the general elections.
Speaking on the proposal, he intimated that if the party is looking at entrenching its democracy and strengthening party structures, this is not the kind of proposal it should want to hold on to.
“In the first place I think the proposal is wrongly targeted. I believe that the political parties in this country are wrongly structured. We do not need to have a flagbearer for the party to be effective or to be efficient in running its activities”.
Dr. Kobby Mensah
According to Dr. Mensah, the argument should be how to empower the party executives, its chairman and general secretary to ensure that whether the party is in government or not, the party will work efficiently.
His comments follow a submission of a proposal for the elections of the NPP’s flagbearer to be held early. The Party members who proposed this explained that it will help the party settle internal wranglings before the presidential election.
Flawed Proposal
Commenting on the proposal to vote early, Dr. Kobby Mensah stated that the argument is flawed. He then questioned what will happen to the executive structures should the elections be held early. He noted that any serious institution should have structures to deal with wranglings and not need an election of a flagbearer in order to resolve problems in the party.
“If the right structures are in place, even within two weeks you should be able to resolve problems in a party”.
Dr. Kobby Mensah
Dr. Kobby mentioned that the argument for the flagbearer election to be pushed forward so that they can have enough time “is neither here nor there”. He stated that if people do not feel that they have been dealt with correctly in terms of giving a fair or (and) equal platform for campaign, definitely, as they move along to resolve a dispute, it won’t work.
“But if structures are transparent, people put confidence in the system. If people feel that they have been dealt with appropriately, why would they be pissed that they have lost elections?”
Dr. Kobby Mensah
Dr. Mensah urged the party to look at the structures that will rather strengthen its internal structures or internal processes. He admonished them to make sure the party members will be confident in the system.
Speaking how things will be for the party’s “Breaking the 8” agenda and the proposal for the early election of flagbearer, he averred that, should the party push the election forward, they would not be in the right course to break the eight as they are expecting to.
“Talking about having two leaders of the party and then going forward till the end of their tenure, there is going to be a quarrel of structures. Those already in the system will be looking at the new administration formed and they are going to commit time and resources to that and what will happen to the old leader?”
Dr. Kobby Mensah
He stated that it is not the right approach to breaking the eight because they will end up focusing on the new leader instead of focusing on the running government.
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