The National Democratic Congress is currently the biggest opposition party in Ghana. It stands a bigger chance of forming the next government in 2025. A party of such magnitude cherishes the dues its members pay. What appears to be a very cumbersome thing at the material moment is that the party is unable to provide a lot of its members with its party cards.
The last time the party cards were made readily available was about seven years ago. It means that since the party has made its cards available online, it has become subtly unavailable to a lot of its members. It is very easy to apply for the cards online, but very difficult to get access to the card. Ideally, the cards when applied for online, should be delivered to the constituency quarters and subsequently the branches. What seems to have become very difficult is the delivery of the cards to the constituency from headquarters.
Apparently, a good number of party members were disqualified for contesting the 2022 branch, constituency and regional elections of the party. This clearly is an indication that a lot of good party materials are booted out for lack of party cards. This is definitely no fault of theirs. I was an eyewitness to two strong advocates of the party who applied to contest for the positions of “constituency secretary” and other “executive member” and were disqualified on the basis of not having party cards.
This is obviously not good for the image of the party yearning to come to power. A lot of these petty things discourage loyal members of the party from going all out to campaign for the party.
This should not be another thing that other parties would use to tease the NDC party like the allegation levelled against it that the party was unable to collate its 2020 election results. All members of the party are supposed to be encouraged to square their shoulders awaiting the campaign period for the 2024 general elections. If the issue of the unavailability of party cards is not resolved amicably, I am of a strong conviction that party members would feel so discouraged to work for the party.
Again, ensuring that party cards are available for everyone, the dues payment net would be expanded to increase the income level of the party.
Stakeholders and those involved in ensuring that this act is checked are advised to do so swiftly.
BANIRA ISSAHAKU KODJI
(PARTY MEMBER)
DAMONGO CONSTITUENCY
