It is often said that failure to plan is tantamount to planning to fail. The NDC, as a party, may have its own strategies to mitigate the fallout that is likely to emerge immediately after the presidential nominees for the positions of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are announced. As a party, we need to be able to project potential outcomes, leveraging our past experiences and hindsight.
In the event that the party has not agreed on any plans to handle the outcome of the announcement and the structures to be put in place to safeguard the presidential nominees and assist them in overcoming the next hurdle, I propose the following:
1.Aspiring for a position and failing to make it can be painful. Not many individuals possess the emotional balance necessary to accept fate in their affairs. If they fail to win, they may feel that everyone else must lose. Therefore, it is essential to convene all aspirants at the regional party office and organize a day-long workshop for them. This workshop should feature officers from the national level, who will interact with all aspirants and gradually prepare their minds to accept the outcome of the selection.
Aspirants must be made to understand that failing to secure the position of District Chief Executive (DCE) does not signify the end of their political future, as opportunities abound in other areas. A primary concern for every individual at this juncture is the potential for poverty; thus, the party must assure them that opportunities will be available if they are unable to secure DCE positions. Individuals who previously vied for these positions and lost should be invited to share their testimonies. This will enable aspirants to accept the outcome of the nominations with a clear mindset. While this may not completely alleviate the pain, it can help assuage their concerns and prepare them to support the president’s nominee.
2.MEETING ALL STAKEHOLDERS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NOMINEE
As soon as the names are announced on air, the regional executives of the party should convene a meeting with all aspirants, the nominee, and key influencers in their district. This closed-door meeting, unlike the initial one, will occur after the aspirants are informed of the president’s decision. This will enable the regional party leadership to gather intelligence on the reactions of unsuccessful aspirants and address their concerns in a timely manner. This acknowledgement will help alleviate the disappointment of former aspirants.
The regional executives should establish an ad-hoc committee dedicated to securing the overwhelming endorsement of the president’s nominee.
Strategically, a former aspirant could be appointed a chairman of the committee at the district level. They should be made to own the process and its outcome. Once a successful endorsement is achieved, the former aspirants will be happy to take credit for the success story.
I have observed with dismay that once the president’s nominations are announced, the party appears to abandon them, leaving them to navigate their own course. This can sometimes push the nominees into a political abyss. Until the nominee becomes a substantive District Chief Executive (DCE), the party executives at the regional and national levels must assume that the process is incomplete.
When my name was mentioned as the nominee for the position of DCE for Fanteakwa on the radio, I was in Jirapa for a bye-election. Two days later, I received a call from a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Assembly Member (notably, I was an elected Assembly Member when I was nominated for the position of DCE). The gentleman informed me that a former aspirant for the position had convened a meeting with all NPP-affiliated Assembly Members in Osino to influence them to reject my nomination. I was taken aback. He drew closer to the meeting while I remained on the line, and I overheard the former aspirant promising them unrealistic benefits if I were to be rejected.
On my own initiative, I arranged for an intermediary to meet with him to address any grievances he may have had. During the meeting, the former aspirant presented me with eight ‘unpardonable offenses’ he claimed I had committed against him. I realized then that he needed the head of a crab from me for his meal! He was attempting to exact an unreasonable concession . This situation arose because the party had not adequately prepared him for the disappointment.
3.APPOINTMENT OF ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
The mistake the NDC makes is appointing Assembly Members before nominating DCEs. Strategically, this approach is flawed. We must leverage past experiences to improve future outcomes. Aspirants to the position should be nominated before Assembly Members are appointed. This is because individuals vying for positions will influence the appointment of Assembly Members. Once they facilitate the appointment of certain individuals, the loyalty of those individuals will shift to the person responsible for their appointment. The protégés of a given personality may feel obligated to vote against their “godfather’s” opponent, if he fails to be nominated.
The nominee should be a key stakeholder in the appointment of Assembly Members, but not directly responsible for determining who should be appointed. Rather, they should be considered the most relevant stakeholders in the appointment process.
We have witnessed instances where government appointees have voted against the president’s nominees. Under both NPP and NDC administrations, governments have had to withdraw some or all government appointees in a district assembly to pave way for a successful confirmation of the president’s nominee.
Effective consultation can prevent the appointment of individuals who may hinder the confirmation process of the president’s choice
4.MEETING ALL APPOINTED AND NDC AFFILIATED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
It is imperative to convene a meeting between all appointed and elected Assembly Members affiliated with the NDC. In situations where we expect unwavering support from our own, we are often met with disappointment. During my second bid for the DCE position, some Assembly Members I personally supported to win their elections and those l appointed (on behalf of the president) worked against me, both overtly and covertly. Some even vied for the position but were unsuccessful so this “cabal” ganged up against me. These appointed Assembly Members formed alliances with their confidantes among the elected Members to undermine me. Unfortunately, in Fanteakwa’s history, a presidential nominee had to undergo the confirmation process three times! I am certain you can comprehend the financial implications of this ordeal. These challenges arose because I was left to fight alone. Ironically, I had to appeal to those I aided in securing their seats in the Assembly and those I personally selected, virtually on my knees to confirm my nomination. This experience underscored the harsh realities of the world.
If the party had dispatched representatives from the regional or national levels to meet exclusively with NDC-affiliated Assembly Members and appointees, and if all had voted in my favour, it would not have been necessary to seek support from NPP-affiliated Members of Assembly as the NDC held more than a two-thirds majority in the Assembly.
Therefore, I propose that a delegation from the regional level meet with the aforementioned categories of individuals to solicit for their support for the nominees. As we are in government, Assembly Members affiliated with the party and seeking favours will likely be willing to put aside any differences and support the confirmation of our comrade.
Finally, I reiterate that the appointment of a DCE does not end with the radio announcement. The party must devise strategic approaches to ensure nominees are confirmed by their respective District Assemblies.
Comrade Abass Fuseini Saber
