The Chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders in South Africa, Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has taken a swipe at the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing their performance as subpar and urging them to step up in order to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Speaking on Joy News’ Newspaper Review show on Thursday, April 24, 2024, Mr. Quashie didn’t hold back. “Honestly, the NPP is not there yet,” he said, attributing their sluggishness to the party’s stunning loss in the 2024 elections. “In the coming days and weeks, I’m sure they would come out of their shells to bounce back,” he added.
Turning to the minority in Parliament, Mr. Quashie acknowledged that while some members have shown competence, others have fallen short.
He praised Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah for offering “brilliant suggestions” that, in his view, deserve serious attention from government. However, he was critical of Hon. Ntim Fordjour’s reaction to the recent controversy over government-sponsored travel, suggesting it was “based more on emotions rather than facts,” a move he believes has hurt the minority’s credibility. “These are the things that make us question the minority’s actions whether they are vibrant or not. They claim they’re the ‘mighty minority’, so we live to see,” Mr. Quashie shared.
He also disclosed that he had personally engaged NDC Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi, urging him to adopt some of the minority’s constructive proposals—particularly those from Kojo Oppong Nkrumah—to ensure the GoldBod initiative is implemented in a more inclusive and effective manner. “We cannot implement national policies with the ‘winner takes all’ mentality, like the NPP, for refusing to include the views of the opposition in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Free Senior High School policy. We need a paradigm shift when it comes to national resources like gold,” he asserted.
In conclusion, Mr. Quashie welcomed Dr. Bawumia’s call for unity during his post-election “thank you tour,” describing it as a positive gesture. “I think the NDC needs a vibrant opposition, and it’s a call in the right direction,” he said, emphasizing that a strong and active opposition would help keep the government accountable. “Once we’re the ruling government and there is a vibrant opposition, it would keep us on our toes to deliver the reset agenda.”
