The Cost of Disunity

One of the stories on our front page today reports that President Nana Akufo-Addo has said a divided front in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prior to the December 2016 polls played to the benefit of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

This is one useful statement which should not be taken for granted by both the NPP and the NDC. It is a statement which should be taken seriously not only by the two parties but also by individual political players and students of politics.

It is both a revelation and a reminder, for that matter, that until the NDC learns to bury its deep rooted differences and confront the next polls as one united party, it surely would not return to power anytime soon.

Same statement should also be a caution to the NPP that it dares not break its front but should rather remain united else power slips through their hands with ease.

THE PUBLISHER is not oblivious of the fact that the NPP operates along the principles of competitive democracy and therefore it would be unthinkable to expect that there would be no divergent views, differences in opinion and factionalism for that matter.

Indeed, there were traits of divisions even within the National Executive of the NPP prior to the polls but by faith and fate, the party managed their differences by ‘casting Jonah into the sea’ so as to calm the pestilential aqua.

Almost a year after the party’s victory, the genealogy of that division is yet to be properly traced so the differences would be ironed out amicably.

THE PUBLISHER was excited, for instance, that Kwabena Agyapong, a former General Secretary of the party showed up at their congress over the weekend. We would have loved to have also seen the presence of former vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe and ousted National Chairman Paul Afoko.

These two individuals may hold unpopular opinions but truth be told, they have been a part of the ‘elephant’ family for decades and whatever differences that led to their suspension or excommunication or both can be solved for there to be a proper reunion.

THE PUBLISHER wishes to remind the NPP of the popular oxymoron, ‘unity in diversity’. It is possible for the two persons to be brought back into the family.

Come to think of it, was it not the same NPP that championed a period of National Truth and Reconciliation for the country? How come then, that the same party is yet to reconcile whatever differences it has with the two gentlemen.

Even a clear show of remorse on the part of Mr. Agyapong and his willingness to reunite with the family he has served all his life has been me with harsh resistance by some. This is unfair. This is not sending the right signals.

God forbid, the reconciliation should not be down after they have been called to join the ancestors.

But these are things we can never be sure of because just as dry leaves, green leaves also fall.

We rest our case for now and shall focus on the NDC later.