Majority Leader in Parliament and MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has reminded NDC members that the party was formed to carry forward the project of ensuring good governance under democratic rule.

He urged the party leadership to think deeply on how to effectively control governments formed by the NDC so the party would never lose office again.

Addressing the party at its 34th Anniversary celebration, Mr. Ayariga said the NDC’s core objective was democratic governance. He noted that Ghanaians were already experiencing good governance under the PNDC, but the decision to transition to constitutional rule led to the formation of the National Democratic Congress.

“When it comes to establishing democracy, when it comes to deepening democracy, I am confident that the party has already achieved that objective,” he stated.

According to him, agreeing to limit its term of government in the 1992 Constitution was a radical decision at a time when Ghana was just emerging from revolutionary rule. It demonstrated a commitment many did not believe the party would honor.

“If you remember, people were wondering, ‘Will he go? Will he not go?’ Even when he said he was going, they didn’t believe it. Even when he said the NDC would give up power if we lost the election, they didn’t believe it,” he said.

“Our singular act as a political party to give up power when we lost in 2000 was what sowed the seeds for the germination of democracy in Ghana,” he added.

Majority Leader Ayariga said the party’s ability to go into opposition, reorganize, and return to power without disintegrating further proved its democratic credentials.

However, he cautioned that more work remains. “There is still a lot more work to do. Now, when we establish a government, how do we successfully control our government to do the right things, so that we will never get out of power?”

Report by Bernard K Dadzie Greater Accra Region