By Isaac Nsiah Foster
Many researchers and political pundits have attributed the National Democratic Congress (NDC’s ), 2020 general elections defeat to the major cause of the party leadership losing touch with the branches at the grassroots.
In this connection, the former Greater Accra Regional Minister Hon. Nii Armah Ashittey who is aspiring for national chairman of NDC has disclosed he will give power to the branches.
Speaking to Ghanaian Watch”s Isaac Nsiah Foster in Accra over the weekend Hon Lawyer Nii Armah Ashittey stressed it was time for the party members to have a second look at party’s constitution again to empower members at the beaches.
The former Greater Regional Minister appealed to his colleague former Ministers, Chief Executives, Ambassador’s/High Commissioners and members who once held appointments in NDC to join a branch within their
various communities to participate in activities that will be organized by the branches in order to empower members ahead of the 2024 general election.
According to the former Tema MCE also former MP for Korle Klotey Constituency Hon. Nii Armah Ashittey what he intends to do is by reviewing the party’s constitution once he is elected as national chairman, indicating he will need the support of all the members to be able to do that with special emphasis on the branches.
Lawyer Nii Armah reiterated branches are the heartbeat, and pilar of the party,stressing the day the branches stop to work ,the party stop to work, thus he disclosed it is important that they empower the branches and make sure that at all times they will be working for the good of the party.
“If you reckon that the Constituency executives are supposed to coordinate the activities of the branches, then what it means is that if, the branches are not working ,obviously there will be nothing for the Constituency executives to coordinate.
He further stated : ” If the Constituency is not working there’s nothing for the regional executives to coordinate. Again if the regional executives are supposed to coordinate the activities of Constituencies and they are not working verily there will be nothing for the regional executives to coordinate same as the national executives.
That is why the NDC is down” Lawyer Nii Armah Ashittey hinted.
He encouraged members at the branches to attend meetings regularly ahead of 2024 general elections .
On positions within the party, lawyer Nii Armah Ashittey since the establishment of the Constituency, Regional and the National executives are having deputies it will very necessary for the branches to equally have their deputies. He said the bulk of the work is at the branch level.
He then proposed that the deputies must be appointed for balance, ethnicity, gender and expertise sake, he further stated is more convenient particularly now the elections have been monetized, many expertise are left out adding we have a lot people who are very good but money factor is preventing them from participating in party elections.
On internal elections, Hon. Nii Armah Ashittey disclosed if he gets the nod as national chairman he will ensure that all Constituency, Regional and National executives attend to their branch meetings.
According to him every NDC member belongs to a branch ,therefore, irrespective of one’s position in the party he/she must attend his branch meetings saying either you are a Member of Parliament, Minister, MCE/DCE you must attend your branch meetings in order empower members at the branch levels.
Hon Nii Armah Ashittey commenting on internal elections said the branch executives and members must be allowed to vote at the branch, Constituency, Regional and National elections and qualification must be a member of good standing ,explaining that one who pays his or her dues at the branch level enviably will empower the branches.