He said the NDC had the track record of being a people’s party; stating that since 1992, from President Jerry John Rawlings to President John Evans Attah-Mills and to his tenure, they had demonstrated their resolve to act in the interest of the people of Ghana.
He was speaking at the party’s national delegates congress in Accra to elect new national officers.
About 9000 delegates and 4,000 local and international observers gathered at the Trade Fair Centre for the congress.
Former President Mahama urged the delegates to elect a formidable team, that would work to accelerate the party’s reorganisation and to ensure victory in the 2020 general election.
“We must reach out to the people of Ghana with our alternative policy positions and programmes to end the hardship that they are suffering.”
“We must curb job losses. We must eliminate the incompetence. Fight and make corruption unattractive. We must eschew nepotism and misrule, and position mother Ghana back onto the track of sustainable development.”
He added that after the Congress, when they had put in place the 2018 to 2022 team in place with other structures and organs of the party, they would be holding a number of policy fares and conferences to put out their proposals and discuss details with industries, labour, students, farmers and market women.
This was to ensure that their proposals met the needs of all Ghanaians.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings, the party’s Founder, asked the delegates to listen to themselves (listen to their inner voice) before casting their voices.
“I can imagine how we would wish for the spirit of the old days. Is it possible to bring it back? I hope so.
But that can only happen if we cultivate the habit of listening to ourselves. I want to make an appeal that we listen to ourselves! We listen to ourselves!”
Mr Ebenezer Kofi Portuphy, the outgoing National Chairman, who is not seeking re-election, urged the party members to unite and work towards victory in the 2020 general elections.
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, outgoing General Secretary of the NDC, in his report to the Congress, said the Ghana Institute of Democracy – the educational wing of the NDC, had so far trained 6,500 members to strength the party’s hierarchy.
The courses run included governance, grassroots mobilisation, social democracy constitution studies, political communication studies and political organisation.
Mr Nketia, who seeking re-eelection, said the party would continue to support the school to train more members.
He told the delegates that following the recommendation in the Professor Kwesi Botchwey led Committee’s report, the party had undertaken complete replacement of its membership register.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the NDC Minority Leader in Parliament, reminded the delegates to elect leaders with will and integrity.
He appealed to them to be guided by the lessons learnt from the defeat of the party in the 2016 elections to vote for leaders with integrity to steer the affairs of the party.
“Let’s resolve and commit ourselves with the lessons from the previous elections and work in unity and work for the irresistible return of the NDC in 2020,” Mr Iddrisu said.
“What we need now as a party is love and support ourselves, heal our wounds because the future prospects of the party are bright. I am optimistic that we will form the government 2020.”
—
Source: GNA
