Editorial: Stop harassing Mills

President Mills has come under heavy criticism by some members of his own party for allegedly dumping the footsoldiers who helped the party win back political power. Among the critics are the Founding Father of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Jerry John Rawlings, and the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin. The latest party member to pour his venom on President Mills� administration is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashiaman, Mr. Alfred Agbesi, who has also criticized the government for reneging on some of its campaign promises. Whilst some of the condemnations appeared to focus on substantive issues, some have resorted to personality attacks, such as describing people surrounding the Presidency as �Greedy Bastards�. The Chronicle rather takes serious exception to the disgusting manner in which our politics is being run. The crime of President Mills, according to the Greater Accra party chairmen when they visited former President Rawlings at his Ridge residence, was that the government was not attending to the needs of the party�s footsoldiers, and expressed their dismay at the purported cold-shoulder treatment of party members. The Greater Accra party chairmen also accused the Mills� administration of failing to award contracts to party members, contrary to what pertained during the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, which remained loyal to their party people. There is no doubt that President Mills won the 2008 election through the collective efforts of his party people. The Chronicle does not, however, think the party should use this as a bargaining chip to demand their rewards from the government. The fact that the previous government was guilty of this practice does not mean the current administration should also follow the same path. At the time the presidential candidate of the NDC was campaigning, his prime loyalty was to his party and the members. Now that he is the President of the nation, and as he remarked, he would be a father for all, the President should not be seen to show partiality towards his treatment of Ghanaians. This is because his current position makes it incumbent on him to seek the general welfare of all Ghanaians. The Chronicle thinks that instead of subjecting the President to such incessant pressures, the footsoldiers should rather support the President to build a better Ghana that would benefit everybody. President Mills seems to have already caved in to the internal party pressures by directing that �all party members who have been given appointments at all levels must make space to enable party members with genuine grievances and legitimate demands to have access to them and to receive attention.� The President has, by the directive, tasked his ministers and other government appointees to give unfettered access to the footsoldiers and other members of the ruling NDC. Some would say the President�s directive sharply contradicts the oath he swore before the whole nation, during his inauguration ceremony. It is unimaginable that President Mills would be able to adequately reward the over four million Ghanaians who cast their vote for the NDC in the 2008 elections. Mr. Rawlings was President for eight years, and additional eleven years as a military dictator, but we do not think he was able to satisfy the wishes of all his loyal party followers. Why then should we portray President Mills as uncaring about his party followers? If the Greater Accra chairmen claim they do not have access to the President, Mr. Rawlings and Mr. Bagbin definitely must have access to him, so what stops them from approaching the President with their grievances, instead of publicly chastising him. This country has economic problems to grapple with, and the President and his team need the peace of mind and focus to tackle them. The President�s attention should not be diverted by petty party squabbles. The distinction between party and government must be respected by all.