Lassai Park in Odumase Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo Constituency, became a crucible of intent as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) convened its 46th June 4th Commemoration, a day etched in the party’s constitution as one of profound accountability. The heavens themselves seemed to acknowledge the gravity of the occasion, mirroring the 1979 weather with a morning downpour, a visceral link to the past for comrades new and old. General Mosquito, Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, delivered a searing address, leaving no doubt that this year’s commemoration was not merely a retrospective but a clarion call for a radical “Reset Ghana.”
Nketiah asserted, with unwavering conviction, that “any system of governance that lacks accountability can’t be described as democratic.” This principle, he stressed, lies at the heart of the 2024 election’s unprecedented outcome, a resounding mandate from Ghanaians weary of their circumstances. The concept of “Reset Ghana” is no mere slogan; it’s a meticulously crafted policy enshrined in the NDC manifesto, a promise that garnered overwhelming public support. The “ORAL” – the Operation Reckon and Account for Looters – has begun, Nketiah declared, a process demanding universal support if the nation is to truly break free from its current malaise.
He vehemently dispelled notions of vengeance or vindictiveness. The impending accountability, Nketiah clarified, is a solemn commitment to deliver on electoral promises, not an act of personal vendetta by President Mahama or the NDC. “Arresting people to account has nothing to do with insults on President Mahama… it is about fulfilling manifesto promises made to Ghanaians to hold all looters to account by Resetting the country.”
The party’s communicators, he advised, must refrain from sterile comparisons of past arrests, focusing instead on the deep-seated public desire for change that propelled the NDC to power.
In a powerful indictment, Nketiah declared that “political parties shouldn’t be a refuge for criminals.” Whether draped in the colors of the NPP or the NDC, a criminal remains a criminal. The “Reset” demands a relentless pursuit of misappropriated resources, their recovery, and the punishment of those responsible. These recovered funds, he passionately argued, must be strategically channeled to address critical national challenges, particularly the crippling energy sector crisis.
Acknowledging the arduous path ahead, Nketiah likened the process of rebuilding and healing to a surgical operation – painful yet necessary. “Surgery requires cutting, opening etc in order to heal. We must be ready to take strong decisions in order to reset the country by holding state looters to account.” His most potent challenge, however, was reserved for his own party. “The easiest thing to do is to hold opponents to account, but hardest to do is to hold ourselves to account. The ORAL is not going to be about NPP alone, it has come to stay. Resetting is not about punishing our opponents but holding ourselves too to account, that way Ghanaians will trust us and the nation will go forward.”
Looking to the future, Nketiah unveiled proposals set to reshape the NDC’s identity and commemorate its foundational roots. “The month of June is very special to NDC party, we therefore declare June As NDC Month – it will be celebration all along.” This will be followed by a constitutional amendment to recognize the birthday of the party’s Founding Father, JJ Rawlings, as a significant party day.
Furthermore, in a move echoing global political traditions, the NDC headquarters will be named JJ Rawlings House, a process already underway to honor its founder. The United Cadres Front has also been tasked with establishing planning committees to advise on making the Revolutionary Square functional as a national museum, solidifying the party’s historical narrative and revolutionary spirit.
Sankofaonline
