The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region has successfully ended a two day retreat on circumstances surrounding the 2020 general elections.
The event was organized at the request of the National Executive Committee and attended by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K Bagbin at SIM-B lodge in Wa from 8th-9th August, 2021.
The objective of the event was to have a sober reflection and frank discussions on events before, during and after the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the Region.
Though the NDC won 65.64% of the presidential elections and won almost all the parliamentary seats, it was established that the voting process and the votes collation process were replete with intimidation, militarization, voter inducement, abuse of state power by the governing NPP.
Read the full statement released by Prosper Puo-Ire, the Upper Regional Communication Officer of the NDC
Also in attendance were the Upper West Regional Parliamentary Caucus, Former Government Appointees, Former MPs, Council of Elders, Cadres, Professionals Forum, TEIN and Regional Executive Committee.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY POST-ELECTION 2020 RETREAT HELD AT THE SEM-B LODGE, WA, UPPER WEST REGION FROM SUNDAY 8TH AUGUST,2021 TO MONDAY 9TH AUGUST, 2021 10th August,2021
PREAMBLE
The Upper West Regional Branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) held a two-day Post Election 2020 Retreat from Sunday 8th August, 2021 to Monday 9th August, 2021 at the SEM-B Lodge in Wa.
The retreat which was held at the instance of the National Executive Committee and the Venerable Speaker of Parliament (Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin), was anchored on the need to have a sober reflection and frank discussions on events before, during and after the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the Region.
Participants were drawn from all the eleven Constituency Executive Committees in the Region, The Regional IT and Elections Directorates, The MPs Caucus, Former Government Appointees, Former MPs, the Council of Elders, the Cadre Front, Professionals Forum, TEIN and the Regional Executive Committee.
REFLECTIONS
A. NDC IN THE UWR
Since the inception of multi Party Democracy in the 4th Republic, the UWR has proven to be a safe haven for the NDC.
This is reflected in the margins of victory chalked by the Party in all the eight Presidential and Parliamentary elections that have been conducted since 1992.
The latest of this has been the (238,972) valid votes constituting 64.65 % margin of victory for the NDCs Presidential Candidate (His Excellency John Dramani Mahama), garnered over the (121,230) valid votes, constituting 32.78 % margin of valid votes obtained by the NPPs Presidential Candidate in the just ended 2020 Presidential elections.
Also, that the NDC won eight(8) out of the eleven(11) Parliamentary seats that were contested in the Region also reinforces the unassailable fact that, indeed, the Upper West Region still remains in the strong grips of the NDC. We acknowledge that, not only is the Upper West Region significant to the NDC in terms of contributing to the electoral fortunes of the Party, but that, the Upper West also continues to be pivotal in contributing quality leaders to the party and to government when we win elections.
The latest and most significant of this is in the person of the Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (Speaker of Parliament and the 3rd gentleman of the land). The region is grateful for this honour the Party has bestowed on one of our own.
B. ELECTION 2020
Notwithstanding the fact that, the NDC in the Upper West Region made significant gains in the 2020 general elections, won 64.65% of the Presidential votes and almost swept all the parliamentary seats in the region, we recognize the fact that, this did not come on a silver platter as the processes of registering voters, the voting process and the votes collation process were replete with intimidation, militarization, voter inducement, abuse of state power by the governing NPP and unhealthy instances of electoral officers being in cahoots with NPP functionaries to manipulate the sovereign will of the electorate for the NPP.
C. PARTY UNITY
Upon sober reflections on happenings within the Party in the region for the past few years, the Party recognizes that, some simmering issues of bickering, rancor and disunity that still linger within our rank and file in the region, has not augured well for the excellent forward march of the Party in the region.
D. GOVERNANCE AND NATIONAL POLITICS
We unanimously consent to the fact that, the primary purpose of every government is to deliver the goods, prioritise the welfare of its citizens and ensure that; citizens are free from fear and from want. Unfortunately, the opposite of these expectations is exactly what the Akufo Addos government is inflicting on Ghanaians.
While our educational system, health sector and agricultural sector are on their lowest ebb, the entire economy is in comatose and requires competent hands to safe the situation.
It is heart wrenching that, while our people are wallowing in abject poverty, penury and social exclusion, the Nana Addos regime exacerbates our plight by polarizing the politics of this country on grounds of ethnicity, religion, familial ties and social stratification. We consider this as a dangerous precedence that can further push this country down the abyss if not checked.
It shocks us that, while almost every sector of the country requires immediate fixing; the NPP Government appears unperturbed about the uproar on its naked opulence, profligacy and indiscriminate desire to borrow and balloon the public debt.
E. COMMENDATIONS
The Party in the region recognizes the invaluable contributions of our forbearers on whose hard work and good will the successes of our Party have been anchored since the birth of the Party. We appreciate our cadre front, our council of elders, financiers, parliamentary caucus, former MPs, former appointees, executives at all levels and indeed the masses of our support base that fought relentlessly to make the NDC successful. We particularly wish to commend our Parliamentary Caucus and the Rt. Hon Speaker of Parliament who have thus far, discharged their responsibilities so creditably to the admiration of all. We could not have had any better representation at the Legislative Assembly than we have in them.
RESOLUTIONS
After a chain of fruitful deliberations and sober reflections, the NDC in the Upper West Region has firmly resolved on the following:
1. That, it is clear the NDC remains the party that can deliver the citizenry from the current socio-economic woes. The party that can extricate Ghanaians from the quagmire of poverty, under development, social exclusion, insecurity and marginalization. The NDC is poised now than ever before to accept this honour of walking Ghana through the highway of development when given the opportunity.
2. That, the party appreciates its performance in the UWR relating to the 2020 elections. The party commends the electorate for the goodwill reposed in the party. The party however acknowledges that, there is more room to perform better.
3. That the NDC in the region has solemnly resolved to close ranks, eschew all conflicts and to remain united as a formidable front, prepared to win any competitive election forthwith.
4. That, the mass character base of the party in the region is encouraged to shake off the dust of the 2020 elections and to gird our loins in preparedness to cling a resounding victory in 2024.
5. That the NDC in the UWR is committed to work assiduously to win every parliamentary seat available for contest in any future election and that, the NDC shall increase its margin of Presidential victory in future elections.
6. That the electoral commission, civil society organizations, religious entities, the peace council, government and political parties yield to the loud call for electoral reforms that will insulate our electoral systems from the undue manipulations of unscrupulous people.
7. That, the NDC is sending out a loud warning to the NPP and the Electoral commission, that, never again shall the NDC countenance any manipulation to subvert the sovereign will of the people. The NDC charges the electoral commission to purge itself from the unenviable reputation it carved to itself in the 2020 General Elections.
*CONCLUSION*
The NDC in the UWR wish to assure the good people of the Region that, the Party will continue to pursue its philosophy of social democracy, anchored on the pillars of egalitarianism, solidarity for all men and women, probity, transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
The party shall remain the reliable political force that will remain committed to giving the Upper West Region its fair share of the national cake. It shall remain the party that will not relent in reducing poverty, eradicating the vulnerabilities of our people and narrowing the development chasm that exists between the Upper West and other regions.
The party wishes to call on the faithful electorate within the Upper West Region not to waiver in their unflinching support to the party, but to trust the NDC with higher vote yields, to enable the Party develop the region. Thank you.
Signed
Puo-Ire Prosper
(0204852735)
Regional Communications Officer.
