Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders Chair for South Africa has shared his views on the significance of the NDC’s win over the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the just ended 2024 elections.
He emphasised that the win puts pressure on the next President, highlighting the need to deliver to fulfill the aspirations of Ghanaians.
He made these remarks in a telephone conversation on Happy 98.9 FM on Sunday, 8th December, 2024. Explaining the motivation for most diasporans joining the NDC campaign, Mr. Quashie underscored the fact that “diasporans were motivated because the country was heading in the wrong direction; motivated because we had a president full of himself and only cared about his cronies and himself; motivated because all Ghanaians helped in inflicting the defeat that the NPP had never tasted before”, he stated.
Apart from financial commitments from diasporans, the SA Council of Elders Chair hinted between 100 and 200 diasporans came to Ghana, highlighting that some worked as observers and polling agents, contributing to the decisive win of the NDC. He expressed his elation about the impactful contributions of the diaspora towards NDC’s course.
He described the 2024 elections outcome as a revolt against the NPP, emphasising it signals that Ghanaian voters are well awake and cannot be taken for granted any further. “Politicians must do what they promise to do, ensuring they carry everyone along. It’s a decisive victory which puts a lot of pressure on President Mahama”, affirmed Mr. Quashie.
Addressing how the NDC government would deliver considering the nature of the economy they are about to inherit according to them, the Council of Elders Chair posited the NDC campaigned on ‘Resetting Ghana- Building The Ghana We Want Together’. Thus, the president would have to hit the ground running by pulling everyone along, ensuring the focality of the development of Ghana. Again, the MPs would have to appreciate the enormity of the task ahead. To do this, they have to support the decentralisation of all government programmes and policies across the country.
“With a manifesto to work with and the ability of President Mahama to deliver on his promises, I think we don’t need 4 years and Ghanaians would begin to experience some relief in their lives”, stated Mr. Quashie, adding the president needs to calve a team of like-minded men and women to help him deliver on the will entrusted to them to the admiration of Ghanaians.
