The Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama, has called on the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to remember what befell them in opposition and close their ranks. He declared that the NDC won the 2008 General election only by divine favour.
According to him, the NPP did not only hide the true picture of the state of the Ghanaian economy, but they also tried to rig the polls. �But God helped us - those who lost their lives in fighting for what was just and right should find a place in the bosom of the Good Lord�, he prayed. He noted that the others have died, suffered tragedy, but we owe our destiny to nurture it, so that God can help us.
Speaking to herald the election of new National Executive for the NDC in Tamale at the weekend, the Veep said it is unfortunate that in spite of the trying moments the NDC faced in opposition, some of them had allowed petty squabbles, bickering and animosity to take the better part of them.
He hinted that it was obvious that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was going to lose the 2008 elections. Continuing, he observed that given the problems that the country went through and the false claims made by the New Patriotic Party concerning the state of the economy, it�s only God, who installed the NDC.
This is because around July 2008, National Security warned the Government that there was going to be economic hardship and that workers were going to agitate for more wages and salaries. The year ended with inflation hitting 18 per cent; interest rate crossing 20 per cent mark, such that in November 2008 the NPP administration could not pay workers� salaries and had to fall on the Euro Bond and luckily for them by December the Vodafone money had come.
According to the Vice President, it was the Euro Bond and Vodafone monies that the NPP used to pay salaries. He said he was painting the picture clear because perhaps the NDC has not been telling their own story very well. �So the economy was not as robust as had been painted; he stressed.
This is the economic challenge that we faced, when we took office�, he pointed out. The fact that someone came into the party first before the other is not enough and urged that kinds of claims to be discarded in order to move the party forward otherwise, the NDC ran the risk of a self destruct. �We must respect each other�s opinions and resolve to move together in unity�, he urged.
The Vice President who spoke before Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, the party�s founder and President John Evans Atta Mills, the leader of the NDC noted that never in the history of the party had such discordance, such polarization, disunity and differences in opinion assailed the party. He indicated that he had never faced such differences in opinion since 1992 adding that what made them stay together is the manner in which they solved these problems.
Continuing, the vice president advised that whatever decision, they took at congress, it was the NDC�s own self that they should hold responsible � adding �we must endeavour to forge ahead in unity�. Veep Mahama therefore urged delegates to the 8th congress of the NDC to come out of congress united. �We have to pull together, self criticism helps every political party to correct its mistakes. We went through eight years in the political wilderness.
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