A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has cautioned the NDC to carefully manage post-election activities such as “Thank You Tours.”
He stressed this is to avoid sowing division within the party.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM‘s Top Story on Thursday, September 18, Dr Asah-Asante said while it is normal and commendable for leaders to express gratitude to supporters after a hard-fought election, such gestures must be carefully structured.
According to him, disagreements over how these tours are carried out could easily create cracks within the party if not addressed promptly.
“I believe there’s nothing wrong with going to say thank you to people who voted for you and supported you through thick and thin.
“But always, there’s a caution. If there are differences relative to that, then the party must sit down and address them.
“Otherwise, we saw what happened in the NPP—it becomes something that the party is not interested in,” he warned.
“So if you want to maintain cohesion and all that…there is a need to come to the base, sit down with party people, and you agree on what to do. It shouldn’t be something that tears the party apart.”
He also referenced Mr Asiedu Nketia’s recent call for members to prioritise hard work and research over the scramble for positions, arguing that such advice was timely and necessary.
Dr Asah-Asante also pointed to activities such as the “Walk with Julius” health walk led by the Chief of Staff, which has sparked debate within the party.
He argued that such moves should be collectively discussed and sanctioned to prevent unnecessary tension.
“If the health walk is also problematic, the party must come together and decide which activities they will support and which they will not.
“It is too early for the NDC to allow internal conflicts to derail its focus. They need to win the confidence of the people who gave them the mandate,” he said.
He concluded by urging the party leadership to find immediate solutions to emerging disagreements before they escalate, cautioning that unmanaged factional activities could weaken the unity needed to deliver on the party’s promises to Ghanaians.
His comment comes after the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, embarked on a ‘Thank You’ tour after the party’s victory in the 2024 general elections.
While officially framed as an appreciation programme to acknowledge the contributions of party executives, cadres, and grassroots organisers for the NDC’s 2024 victory, some observers believe it may also position Mr Asiedu Nketiah for a future presidential bid.
However, Mr Asiedu Nketia explained the reason behind his ‘Thank You’ tour, noting that he deliberately targeted difficult constituencies, mobilising grassroots structures to secure gains for the NDC.
He emphasised that his ‘Thank You’ tour is specifically tied to the success of the parliamentary elections.
“This tour is not about the presidential campaign—it is about appreciating the efforts of our people who worked tirelessly to win seats in Parliament and to strengthen the party’s position,” he added.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
