NDC: Race for the Upper West Regional Chairmanship, the Need to Maintain to Consolidate Our Gains

Our Party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will soon set in motion modalities for the reorganisation of the structures from the branches to the National Executive level. In between will be the election of Zonal, Constituency and Regional Executives to steer the affairs of the Party towards the much sought-after and envisaged victory of 2024.

The Upper West Region, a loyal concubine of the NDC will not be left out in this process. Key among the several positions to be contested for will be that of the Regional Chairmanship. The important role that the Regional Chairman of any party worth its sort plays can never be downplayed or underestimated. The Regional Chairman is the steering wheel of the party which determines the speed, focus and direction of the party though mostly in consultation with other stakeholders.

Mr Abdul-Nasir Saani the incumbent Regional Chairman, a longstanding party financier and astute businessman has indicated strongly and loudly his intention to take a shot at the position again. Thus, Chairman BUNAS as he is affectionately and popularly known wants to be retained to accomplish what he started in his first tenure as the Regional Chairman. He comes to this position with loads of experience having already being in the contest twice though he lost in the previous one.

A critical and careful analysis of the dynamics of the NDC in the Upper West Region brings to the fore the compelling needs to maintain him as the Regional Chairman of the Party. Having given away five of the eleven Parliamentary seats in the Upper West Region during the 2016 elections, it took his tact and thoughtfulness to add two more seats to scale the total number of seats to eight out of eleven. With his resolve to claw back all parliamentary seats into the NDC fold, he has so far extended his political prowess and consultation to bring on board all stakeholders to build a formidable and winsome NDC.

Ours is a party that needs to reward loyalty, commitment and dedication to the course of the Party. As a longstanding Party man whose sponsorship and membership of the party predates his ascension to the position of Regional Chairman, he has become a household name within the corridors of the NDC and needs no special introduction to that effect. He has for several years committed himself and his resources to helping the party to run campaigns and organize programmes. His unwavering dedication has seen him personally support constituency and parliamentary campaigns during very crucial times of the party’s life.

Undoubtedly, his high level of political experience and maturity is key to building the necessary bridges across all divides within the party to build a cohesive, united and inclusive party to make victory twice assured going into the 2024 elections. The party cannot afford to gamble on his bid for any reason. The driving force and motivation as we go into the Regional Elections should be about the ultimate of winning the next election and sweeping as many parliamentary seats as possible. And Chairman Bunas has never reneged on this.

As a truly democratic party, the NDC allows for internal elections based on guidelines. As such, Chairman Bunas is ready for any such contest since competition breeds excellence. The NDC needs the very best of its human resource to propel the party to victory in 2024. That said, the delegates must scrutinise and assess the credentials of candidates and make informed choices that best fits the expectations of the rank and file of the party. All delegates must eschew inconsequential considerations and place premium on the overarching expectations of the party.

Conclusively, a vote for Chairman Bunas is a vote to consolidate the gains of the NDC in the Upper West Region and a further step towards the Flagstaff House in 2025. Let’s make a choice to assure us of victory in 2024.

By Yussif Ishmael

Party Footsoldier

01/12/21