Is Ghana for Third Force or will she be better served with two dominating political parties dictating the pace of national affairs? Whilst some political watchers argue that Ghana does not need many political parties and that the two dominant parties –The National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party-are enough to serve the national interest, others insist Ghana needs a Third Force to blunt the sharp edges of both the NDC and the NPP.
Indeed the Reform Patriotic Party (RPP), Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), and the various Nkrumaists parties among many other emerging political parties have all tried to offer that alternative –a Third Force – but after five elections , and going into the sixth, it does appear that the Ghanaian electorate are bent on deciding between the NDC and NPP for now.
As the country inches towards Election 2012, many watchers of the political scene are keen on its outcome and how the less dominant political parties will fare in the elections.
This year has also seen the emergence of new political parties registered by the Electoral Commission including the Progressive People's Party, National Democratic Party and the United Front Party.
However, it appears it is the PPP that has never hidden its determined to become a force to reckon with in the country's political sphere, having managed to field over 200 parliamentary candidates out of the 275 constituencies. Indeed. It is only the NDC and the NPP that fielded parliamentary candidates in all 275 constituencies for this year's polls.
Though , the two major political parties have naturally more following what many political watchers are seeking is whether the PPP is poised to cause an upset in Ghana's political history. As the political movement gears itself to win the Election 2012.
It will be recalled that the decision taken by the Nkrumaist People's Convention Party (PCP), to allow their flag bearer, Mr. Kow Nkensen Arkaah to partner J.A Kufuor in the 1996 election set the stage for the emergence of two strong political parties. Many Nkrumaist party supporters backed the NPP and this spilled over to the 200 elections, which saw the CPP backing the NPP during the second round of elections
No doubt there is a place for a Third Force in the country in terms of political organization as the nation keeps crying for a Third Force within the body politic.
Unfortunately, the various Nkrumaist parties RPP,DFP, and others have not taken the advantage yet. Can Dr. Nduom declared , ' we know there are people who look upon us with skepticism. Some say we wasting our time and money… But we are confident that majority of Ghanaians are ready to vote for the PPP. And Ghanaians have a big choice to make in 2012 stagnation or progress.''
No doubt there are many Ghanaians , irrespective of their political ideologies and leaning, who are disenchanted with the current state of affairs in the country and want genuine change , but the question to ask is whether the PPP offers the nation that choice and given the mandate to rule, can stand the test of time.
Dr. Nduom continues to recount the biblical story of how David used a smarter wiser way to defeat Goliath, and argues that the two " political Goliaths" on Ghana's political landscape- the NDC and the NPP-would be deposed by PPP David."
The PPP, from the very beginning must recognize that it faces a bid challenge as the smaller parties in Ghana have so far failed to win significant votes. Many have also opined that the PPP is spreading thin throughout the country and needs to do more of targeting campaigns so as to win some seats in parliament.
To be relevant, the PPP must continue to build political structures and position itself as the best alternative to the NDC and NPP making itself national and bringing a variety of people on board to gain credibility and access to resources. While some key members of the PPP are from the Convention People's Party (CPP), many more are from other parties ideologies or leaning or are completely new to politics and therefore offer a fresh perspective on party politics. All these individuals have no doubts, brought on board self-help and professional organizational skills. They have helped to organize skills. They have helped to organized the PPP in record time (under one year) to meet the requirements of the Political Parties Law that regulates the setting up of political parties.
While the law says that political parties must have offices set up in at least two-thirds of the constituencies, PPP thirds of the constituencies, PPP officials confirmed that they had offices opened in all the original 230 constituencies .
Indeed a recent visit from Accra in the Greater Accra Region to Ho in the Volta Region, Takoradi in the Western Region , Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and Tamale in the Northern Region showed that the PPP had functional offices in constituencies, regions and at the national level. I am aware many parties on the Electoral Commission record cannot meet this requirement today. I am equally aware that the PPP has also presented its financial report to the EC as required by the law. Not many parties have done this either.
The PPP is, therefore working quite hard to be national in character, organization and membership.
Many parties cannot boast of these attributes either. However, becoming the third Force in the governance structure of the country will not come easily. It has to do with hard work and the kind of message the PPP puts across. There is a place for a Third Force in our political landscape, but no party can achieve this task if it ties its cloth with one of the big political parties. If PPP can work hard and get out of that mode, then they have a opportunity is out there for any serious political party to take it.
In my view , it ids the Third Force that can serve as a kingmaker of Ghana politics so that the duo politics of NPP and NDC could be toned down. Can the PPP be the fulcrum to bring about this force? It is a tall order when you have two political traditions that have ruled this country for more than 20 years and 10 years respectively . It is a long journey , but depending on what they bring to bear on their campaign, they can do it.
After all, in a sustainable democracy, everything is possible and the standard parties can a collapse for new forces to emerge . When parties go in and out of office and people's expectations are not met, they look for alternative.
Mr. William Dowokpor ,the PPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso Wuogon , declares on his Facebook page that – When everyone who believes in PPP votes for PPP, PPP WILL WIN Give PPP a Chance!''
Another leading member of the PPP tells me, "The party has bankers, lawyers, education, administrations, health professionals, engineers, public relations experts among others, as parliamentary candidates and the PPP has proven that it has the men and women with whom to administer the affairs of the country."
He argues," the PPP's presidential candidate and his running mate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum and Madam Eva Lokko, are arguely one of the best qualified teams in the 2012 elections. They have domestic and international experience and credibility. They are promoters of inclusiveness in Ghanaian society and are job creators."
Personally in the 2012 election campaign the PPP has, no doubt , distinguish itself as a disciplined, peaceful party that has dedicated itself to incorruptible, competent leadership , quality education for all Ghanaian children , fight against preventable disease and providing jobs for Ghanaians.
However in all of these positive attributes, the question. I am asking is : Will it translate into votes? According to EC records over a million people are eligible to vote for the first time since the 2008 elections.
How the PPP has worked and sacrificed to win as many of them to their fold will be known come the December polls.
"Yes we can ,"Dr. Nduom emphatically told me and added, "In Benin candidate Yayi Boni came from nowhere to defeat the so-called major parties to become President."
Dr. Nduom further mentioned candidate Michael Sata who polled three per cent of the presidential vote with his party winning only one seat in Parliament as an inspiration because today, he has become the president of Zambia. He did what some considered the impossible. "we are asking Ghanaians to exercise their faith in the PPP and give what he called "David PPP'' a chance he employed.
It is true; no political party has the advantage of a single vote yet in Election 2012, but can the PPP really come from nowhere to defeat the might of the two major political parties in Ghana? Can the PPP do the impossible in Ghana's political history? The strong hearted will answer it is impossible will Ghanaians support the PPP to build the alternative that will transform the economy? The electorate are the best to answer come December 7, 2012.
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