It is amazing how some members of parliament of the Republic of Ghana and their chronies think about their electorates, especially the delegates. In the past, I did not understand why MPs did not care about delegates until it was time for parliamentary primaries. Now, I can say why because I am in the race for parliament and have come face to face with some of their schemes and real meanings of their actions and inactions.
Some MPs are so insensitive that they do not do any thing to improve the living conditions of the party faithfuls, foot soldiers and executives. Why? Because in poor living conditions, human beings are vulnerable and succumb easily to the whims and caprices of bread and butter providers. This is what MPs sought to achieve by leaving their electorates poorer than they met them.
May their Souls Rest in Perfect Peace. Some hard working executives of Biakoye Constituency died poppers and their places of abode until their death could go for anything. These were men who served the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with their sweat and toil but could not show anything for it. These men worked hard thinking what they could do to help their constituency, party and country whilst their leader thought of himself and how to keep the seat permanently.
Since then, things have changed and the untouchables have been touched. Ask Ahwoi if there was anything he could not provide. Ask Zita, she was said to have given out GHc 300.00 per delegate yet she lost. These two represent a clear case of a performer and a non performer who both had the same benefit. It also tells you the unpredictability of the delegate. The fact that you provide him with XYZ is not enough to warrant a vote.
Sadly, some of these MPs do not learn at all. May he live long; Hon Adu Asare. Objectivity created bad blood between him and his executives leading to pressure on him to step down after just one term. This honourable does better than some sewing machine and roofing sheets sharing MPs. Even if they wish to give these things genuinely to their delegates, why now? Just some few days to their primaries and they are distributing such items for votes?
The use of common fund for vote purchase is criminal and must not be encouraged. Tell your MP to initiate projects and schemes that will help you get a regular income and not wait till it's election to doll out small gifts.
The lessons of election 2000 from the Akan constituency are still fresh on our minds. when the then MP who had lost his popularity with the electorate was re-elected at the primaries, Rashid Bawa was elected as an independent candidate. The love for NDC was used to axe Rashid when he stabbed his electorate in the back by selfishly defecting to NPP. This is one of the reasons why incumbent MPs who have lost their grip on the ground must not use diabolical means to get re-elected at their primaries for the bigger race can send the NDC to opposition.
Congress 2013 should consider a mini general election where every card bearing member of NDC of good standing should be allowed to vote to elect candidates for the general election to remove vote buying and intimidation from parliamentary primaries. It is absurd that most party sympathisers and 'members' inluding branch and constituency executives do not have membership cards. Whose responsibility is it to provide membership cards? If one can not provide little things that will develop the party, he can not help the party.
Rounding up, delegate, friends of delegates and every well meaning Ghanaian should watch out for the display of sewing machines, tv sets, fridges, roofing sheets and money just to maintain power and ignore the people until it's primaries again. It has started at Afram plains North where a sleeping MP is sharing goodies. Watch out for hot gossips this xmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment