NDC deserves to win — Obiri Boahen

Page 12: Daily Graphic, January 5, 2009
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, has admitted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) deserves to win the general election.
He said while the NDC worked as a committed and dedicated team, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were all nerves.
He told the Daily Graphic soon after the declaration of the results that it was a battle well-fought by both parties but it was the most prepared and determined political party that won.
“You cannot take that right from the NDC and I think the national executive of the party, particularly its General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, who was all over the country,” he said.
Nana Boahen said he and some other functionaries were not impressed with the performance of the NPP executive.
Comparing the executives of the two parties, the NDC went the extra mile in discharging their duties except the utterances of its general secretary although he did his administrative and field operations well.
“He performed better than the general secretaries of the other parties,” he said.
Nana Boahen, however, said there were a few isolated cases of intimidation, snatching of ballot boxes, beating of party agents by opponents as well as number of votes exceeding the number on the register and declaration of party agents as persona non-grata that needed to be addressed.
He said the voting trends which centred on tribalism did not augur well for national unity.
He said the Electoral Commission also needed to perfect the printing of electoral materials to avoid allegations of thumb-printing of ballot papers before elections.
“When I raised the alarm about the use of extra ballot papers for other uses, I was lambasted and castigated but I think the disappearance of the 1,800 ballot papers at Tain which necessitated the postponement of the elections there vindicates me,” he said.
Nana Boahen, however, urged the rank and file of the NPP not to be demoralised but stand up and be counted in these challenging times, saying that “Prof Mills contested three times before winning and that should urge us all to be steadfast”.
He said Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo fought like an ancient Roman soldier and should be commended by all.
He said the NPP must begin to put the pieces together by reviewing the party’s constitution to create positions for deputy general secretaries and repose the selection of parliamentary candidates and presidential candidates of the NPP in the hands of paid up members.
Nana Boahen said it was also important to create positions for Deputy National Organiser and that of Youth Organiser to broaden the field operations of the party.