Why is the Volta Region one of the most deprived regions in Ghana despite consistently voting massively for the NDC since 1996? Why are the road networks in Ho and the surrounding districts very poor despite the huge support NDC has enjoyed from the people in the region? Why is water so scarce in many parts of the Volta despite the region having one of the highest parliamentarians in the country under the NDC? Why is unemployment so high and pervasive among the people especially the youth? Why aren’t more factories been established in the region to ease the unemployment and poverty in the region? Why hasn’t the leadership of the NDC reciprocated the positive gesture and favours Voltarians have showered on the party for decades? Have the people of Volta Region been taken for granted for supporting the NDC?
Over the last couple of weeks, the people of Volta Region and the Northern parts of Ghana have intensified their protests against the NDC. They feel the NDC has not fulfilled its part of the social contract between the party and the people. Those in Ho want the roads in the city to be fixed. Others want water. Some have complained about lack of jobs while others are bitter due to lack of electricity for their socio-economic activities.
It is good that the people of Volta and their counterparts in the north are making it clear how they feel about their current situation. The unquestionable support NDC has received from these regions has made the party complacent. In fact, in my opinion the people have been taken for granted by the NDC for a long time. Because the votes have been automatically there, there has been no reason for the NDC to deliver tangible socio-economic goods to the masses who always vote for the party.
Voltarians voted hugely for the NDC in the last six presidential elections. Almost all the Voltarian MPs in the current parliament are NDC candidates yet the region has not changed much in terms of social and economic advancement. This is because the people do not appear to value their votes or have not insisted that the terms of the contract between them and the party be implemented to the letter. The Voltarian MPs some of whom were key ministers in the Rawlings and Mills presidencies and the current Mahamah administration have not devised any social or economic policies tailored to the needs and aspirations of Voltarians.
While some NDC apparatchiks in Volta and the three northern regions have been riding on the back of the people to become wealthy, the people whose votes continue to make the NDC the longest ruling party in the history of the Fourth Republic continue to be kayayos in Accra, and Kumasi and live their lives selling dog chains, ice water, sugar cane and sleeping in kiosks, and uncompleted structures in Accra. Is it how to reward loyal voters?
In fact, Volta region is poor and without major development because the NDC which dominates the region does not have any realistic development blue print for the region. The leadership of the party is only interested in the votes but not the needs, aspirations and opportunities of the people. This has to change. But the people must also take part of the blame for allowing the NDC to use them during elections and dump them afterwards.
It is difficult for majority of Voltarians to vote for other parties because they feel the NDC is theirs. But in the face of increasing poverty, lack of socio-economic development, poor infrastructure, lack of economic and employment opportunities for both the youth and adult population, will the people continue to provide unflinching support for the NDC?
If Voltarians are going to vote for the NDC again in December 2016, then they must do so by assessing whether the NDC actually deserves their votes given its track record in the region.