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The wrangling within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has thrown into sharp focus the question as to whether the internal issues of a political party should matter to voters. This question can be situated within the broad question as to what voters should look out for in a political party. Should they consider the strength of the government? Is the weakness of the government worthy of consideration? What of the opposition? Shall we in equal measure consider its strength, as well as its weakness? Some may consider some. Some may consider all. But as the NPP is busy toying with the self-destruct button, one thing is certain: the party wagon has fallen of its wheels and the carriage is currently riddled with mutual suspicions and distrust. And the spill over effect is visible to all- a distracted flag bearer; a crying out loud general secretary; a fight intervening chairman; and the list of negatives goes on. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is on the other hand making as much capital as it can from this and the latest statement was from the President, proclaiming his party as the most united party in the country. The state of the opposition party should be of concern to everyone. That opposition parties are essential to the progress and wealth of a nation goes without saying. In truth, there is one thing we take for granted: that every democracy is required to alternate power. Party A would have its turn in power and as sure as night follows day, Party B would also have its turn in power. Samuel Huntington, a renowned political scientist refers to this phenomenon as the two-turnover test. He notes that �� a democracy may be viewed as consolidated if the party or group that takes over power in the initial election at the time of transition loses a subsequent election and turns over power to those election winners.� This essentially presupposes that at every point in time, for democracy to be consolidated, there must be an opposition (government in waiting) and government in power. To that extent, opposition parties are relevant. The conventional wisdom has been that opposition parties should act as a counterbalance to the government � punching and where possible, slashing away the excesses of governmental power. Their mere description as government in waiting in itself sums up what is required of them: to be on the sidelines warming up and waiting upon the Electoral Commissioner to declare them eligible to enter into the field of governance. The Convention People�s Party, in support of this view, created a structure where leading members of the party were given specific portfolios. There were persons assigned to check the government on issues relating to health, education, economy, security and so on. They were called shadow ministers. If their plan had pulled through, probably the CPP would have been the most organised political unit outside of Parliament. Political parties (which of course include opposition parties) are given the liberty under the Constitution to participate in shaping the will of the people to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character and sponsor candidates for public office. This excludes sponsoring candidates for positions in district assemblies and lower local government units Owing to the importance of opposition parties, everyone should be concerned. What happens in a political party is as important as what it decides to show to the world. The internal structures and coherence of a political party is indicative of its viability as a political machinery in the first place and second as a government. The challenge becomes crucial where the issues relate to management of persons and the deployment of individual talents, potential and abilities. One thing that is sure is that governance is about people. And though human resource issues can be complex and difficult to deal with; they are nonetheless crucial to the achievement of organisational objectives. Just as no one would invest in a company which is either crumbling or on the verge of crumbling, so should no one expect one to vote for a political party that is having a hard time keeping its established structures from functioning. Votes are not like coins to be thrown into bowls of beggars. They are trump cards that can change the livelihoods of individuals and destinies of nation. Votes must, therefore, be earned. And if not for anything at all, a vote is indicative of the fact that we all have an equal interest in shaping and upholding the country. The outcome of an election is not only about the performance of government. It is also about the quality of the alternatives that is presented. The NPP must, therefore arise, build and consolidate its internal structures. After all, charity begins at home.