In the wake of the ongoing tension between Ghana’s Supreme Court and Parliament over the status of four Members of Parliament, former Northern Regional Deputy Communications Officer for the NDC, Hardi Pagazaa, has expressed concern about the strategic direction of his party.

Mr. Pagazaa’s comments follow an earlier warning from former NDC MP Ras Mubarak, who cautioned the party about the political risks involved in the current impasse.

Pagazaa’s statement reflects frustration with the NDC’s response to recent judicial and parliamentary developments.

According to him, the NDC has allowed itself to become distracted by the controversy surrounding the MPs instead of focusing on core campaign issues, including economic hardships, galamsey (illegal mining), and alleged manipulation by the Electoral Commission.

He argues that these issues resonate more with the electorate and are critical to the NDC’s success in the upcoming elections.

Hon. Pagazaa also noted that the late former President Jerry John Rawlings advised the NDC during the 2016 campaign to avoid mimicking the NPP’s strategies and to instead uphold the party’s core values.

He further criticized the NDC’s tendency to dismiss such warnings by focusing on the messenger rather than the message, a sentiment he said also applies to the advice given by Ras Mubarak regarding the current parliamentary situation.

Hon. Ras Mubarak warned that the focus on the MPs’ status could be seen as a diversionary tactic, but his cautionary message was largely ignored.

According to Pagazaa, the NDC missed an opportunity to stay focused on campaign issues, allowing the ruling party to divert attention from controversies surrounding its administration.

He specifically highlighted the reduction in media attention on issues like galamsey, labor protests, and cost-of-living concerns, which previously pressured the government.

Instead, media coverage has shifted to the Supreme Court-Parliament clash and the majority-minority debate, an outcome Pagazaa attributes to strategic maneuvering by the ruling NPP’s Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin.

In his closing remarks, Pagazaa urged the NDC to adopt a more strategic approach and prioritize issues that matter most to voters.

He expressed his sadness as a “student of political history” and called on his party to avoid falling prey to what he sees as the ruling party’s manipulative tactics.

Story By: Robicon Mornahson