TO me, last Saturday’s election of the NPP flag bearer was wonderful.
The manner in which party members embraced the system was unique, in that they conducted themselves very well, thereby reducing tension associated with such elections.
I think NPP should further expand this system to every card- bearing member of the party to offer them a unique opportunity of taking part in electing their leader.
This will give every member the opportunity to be part of the decision making process.
If this is done, it will also sober party leaders, knowing that without the ordinary person, they could not be elected into high office.
With this, leaders would also be committed to honour promises, because at the back of their minds they would acknowledge the support offered by the people and realise that failing to honour promises would lead to their rejection in future.
It is my opinion that other political parties should adopt and improve upon this innovation.
In the American system, they vote state after state on different dates, but that of NPP was on the same date and time, so it should be encouraged.
Previously, there were just a handful of people picking the leader of a party for the rest of the members.
This was not the best, so this is the beginning of good things to come.
Having come to this level, I hope the concept would be further developed to firmly entrench democracy in the country.
With this, the choice of a candidate would be the choice of majority of the people.
With the 78 per cent victory of Nana Akufo-Addo, it shows that he has the support of party faithful across the country
Another issue was that the perception of manipulation was not feasible so the question of influencing delegates at the last minute was not visible.
This is not only widening internal democracy, but deepening the participatory aspect of it.
The sense of belongingness was also felt. With this, the electorate are directly telling their leaders to open up. African leaders who think they are popular should go to the people, let them get elected before they become their leader.
THE just ended NPP delegates congress that elected Nana Akufo -Addo as the flag bearer is historic, in that it has brought to the fore the need for African politicians to allow the ordinary person to be part of the king making process.
Given the nature of the elections and the manner in which it was conducted on August 7, 2010, it has enhanced democratic principles in the party.
This is because the process has recognised the ordinary people who have a stake in the party.
Because there was much participation in the process of electing the flag bearer, I am certain that many of the party members would be actively involved in issues that promote the interest of the party, especially during the 2012 election campaign.
In the past, just a handful of people took part in electing leaders of the various political parties.
I think this was not the best because it indicated that just a few decided for the majority.
The NPP has proven that when many people actively participate in deciding who should be their leader, they also owe such a leader every support and encouragement they can give.
With the NPP election now history, the expectation is that delegates would rally all the needed support for their leader so as to whip up interest in others to also support his candidature.
The way it was conducted also reduced the tension associated in gathering all delegates together to elect their leader.
I hope the other political parties have taken note and would improve upon it to enhance democracy at the grassroots.
Ghana is the winner because we have proved once again that we have something to offer the continent.
THE just ended NPP delegates congress shows that our democracy is growing.
As compared to the previous ones where delegates converged at a particular venue to elect their flag bearer, this was a bigger representation of party supporters, which is very positive so far as the democratic dispensation in the country was concerned.
As compared to previous congresses, this was cheaper. The cost of bringing delegates from all corners of the country, accommodating and feeding them, was more expensive than just offering them transport fares to go to a particular constituency to cast their votes.
The tensed atmosphere witnessed during previous occasions were not visible here because delegates met as one family to elect a leader of their choice.
Because there seemed to be no better representation of delegates when a few members were selected to elect a leader, it sometimes created a tensed atmosphere , creating suspicion among voters.
Previously, before converging at a venue to elect a leader, there were accusations of vote buying, lobbying and coercion, and this created a state of anxiety among the hierarchy of members at the grassroots.
Last Saturday’s election was quite transparent, because many people were privy to what was happening, and those who represented their party better served the interest of the ordinary person.
It is my hope that the other political parties would either adopt this innovation or improve upon it to enhance democratic dispensation in the country, because it was more transparent, less tensed and cost effective.
THE just ended NPP delegates congress was a landmark for democracy not only in Ghana, but the entire African continent.
There is the need to commend the entire party members, their executives and all the people involved during the electoral process.
The candidates and the electorates should also be commended for how they comported themselves and organised the entire programme.
As compared to the previous ones where a handful of delegates converged at a particular venue to elect a leader, over 100,000 delegates were actively involved in this particular exercise.
In terms of numbers, therefore, there were larger representations this time around. This, I believe, made it very difficult for a particular candidate to manipulate the voters.
With over 100,000 delegates showing their solidarity, it implied that the winner had a wider representation of support across the country.
He could therefore count on them to actively canvass for him or her during the main general elections.
In terms of logistics and organisation, I am certain that the cost of this election was higher than the previous ones.
This was because organising the security personnel to see to it that things went on smoothly, coordinating agents for each of the candidates to see to their interest, as well as coordinating the operations of the Electoral Commission in all the 230 constituencies, cost a lot of money, but in the end it had much impact on the democratic dispensation in the country.
In terms of efficiency, it was better and I think it would be of interest for the other parties to closely study it and see what they can do about it.
They may have different ways of improving upon it, but if they could involve as many party supporters to be involved in such a process at the primaries, all the better.
THE expansion of the delegates congress will inspire not only the delegates, but other family members to be actively involved in partisan politics.
This was the first time since independence that as many as 100,000 people took part in electing a leader for a particular party.
This should be commended, and with the flag bearer winning over 70 percent votes across Ghana, it implies that he commands a lot of support.
With many people also taking part in electing a leader, the confidence level of the electorates would soar high and offer them the vigour to be part of every programme of the party during elections.
The expectation is that the other political parties would see it as an innovation and devise means of adding to it.
Across the country, I realised that the victory of Nana Akufo-Addo did not create any form of bitterness among either candidates or their supporters. This proves that gradually the country is getting far in her democratic processes. The results also did not create any form of bitterness among the losers.
Elections should not incite the public to be at each other’s throat as pertains in certain parts of the country.
After elections, there is the need to rally behind the winner. Political campaigns should also be devoid of rancour, bitterness and violence as it creates tension in the country.
I hope the other political parties would also involve as many electorates as possible to entrench democratic principles in the country.
LAST Saturday’s NPP delegates congress was simply marvellous.
This was because for the first time in the history of electing the flag bearer of a party in this country, over 100,000 people across the country actively participated.
Recognising ordinary persons as king makers to elect a leader offers them due respect and fulfilment.
This would not only make them special in their own communities, but also inspire them to get involved with the campaigns during the general elections.
With this recognition, they would be able to whip up interest among people who refuse to exercise their franchise during general elections.
It is very important for as many people as possible to exercise their franchise during elections to ensure that a leader who emerges would have the support of majority of the electorate.
People exhibit apathy during important exercises like elections.
This could be traced to the few who have constituted themselves as king makers, denying many the opportunity to take part in such exercises.
Rumours of being influenced financially for votes during delegates congresses are very rife, and with the NPP showing the way that as many people could be involved in electing their leader, the onus lies on other political parties to study and improve upon it.
The peaceful nature of the exercise also needs my commendation.
It proved that gradually, Ghanaians are becoming more mature when it comes to deciding on issues.
Elections should not create any tensed atmosphere as sometimes happens in parts of the country, so my expectation is that people would learn to appreciate and respect each others views to enhance peaceful co-existence.
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