Members of the John Mahama Fun Club in Bongo in the Upper East Region, says the shock of the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections would forever remain in the minds of the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
A statement issued by the Communication Director of the Party, Mr Patrick Anamoo and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said it was regrettable and shocking for an incumbent President and a ruling party to lose 50 parliamentary seats and record only 44.5 per cent of the votes.
The Club commended the former President of the NDC, Mr John Dramani Mahama for his selfless and patriotic leadership and fighting gallantly for the Party.
The group attributed the failure of the Party to recapture power to the introduction of what they termed “draconian policies such as the freeze on public sector employment, the removal of teacher and nurse trainee allowances as well as hikes in taxes.”
“There were by no means poverty entrenching and unfavourable for any ruling government whose party was going in for elections.
“Also, the expansion of the electorate college, which was crafted with the intention to extend franchise opportunities to Party members backfired as many Party leaders at the constituency levels abused it to the frustration of many especially the masses and also pushed many to contest as independent candidates”.
The group indicated that as grass roots supporters and members of the Party, they had their ears glued to the ground as such was in the position to offer the best advice but they fell on deaf ears.
“As grass roots supporters of the National Democratic Congress, we had sensed eminent defeat long before the onset of the contest.
The Party is in a great shock today and we wish we could reverse the situation, which is practically impossible, the electorate were complaining of school fees, feeding grants, salaries, allowances, jobs, and corruption among others and yet the Mahama led administration was commissioning projects which is very commendable but could not win the minds of the people,” it said.
The group, however, said they were consoled by the fact that former President Mahama was committed to solving the challenges in the country at the expense of the victory of the Party.
“We are consoled and impressed because the singular action by his Excellency was one of patriotism and selflessness. We believe that posterity will exonerate him.”
The group said though all the physical infrastructural projects that were undertaken by former President Mahama were laudable, the failure of the Constituency leadership to sensitise the electorate contributed immensely to the defeat of the Party.
It appealed to all Party members to take heart, reflect and take stock of the actions and inactions in the electioneering in order to fashion new tools for victory in the next elections particularly the overhauling the NDC right from the branch to national level and ensure that everybody was brought on board.
Whilst commending the former Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Bongo, Mr Albert Abongo, for his hard work, the group also paid tribute to the New Patriotic Party for winning.