The Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have called on political parties across the country to ensure that only competent and capable individuals are elected into leadership positions, warning that the practice of placing “square pegs in round holes” has serious consequences for political organizations and national development.
According to the group, political parties often lose the confidence of their grassroots supporters not because of the strength of their opponents but due to poor leadership choices, nepotism and the neglect of committed party members.
Addressing the media in a press statement, the Gallant Cadres said political parties must learn important leadership lessons from the lifestyle of ants, whose discipline, organization and teamwork have been admired for centuries.
The statement quoted Proverbs 6:6-8, where King Solomon urges mankind to “go to the ant” and learn wisdom, diligence and responsibility. It also referenced Surah An-Naml (Chapter 27:18-19) of the Holy Qur’an, where Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) appreciated the wisdom and alertness demonstrated by an ant in protecting its colony from danger.
According to the group, both the Bible and the Qur’an highlight the significance of ants because of their remarkable organizational structure and commitment to the welfare of the entire colony.
The Cadres explained that ants thrive because every member performs a specific role. While the queen ensures the continuity of the colony, worker ants gather food, care for the young, build and maintain the nest and uphold sanitation, whereas soldier ants protect the colony from external threats.
“This organized division of labour makes ants one of the most successful creatures on earth,” the statement noted.
Drawing parallels with political leadership, the group argued that political organizations can only succeed when individuals are assigned responsibilities that match their competence, experience and abilities.
The Gallant Cadres lamented that greed, selfish ambition and political patronage often result in people seeking positions for which they are unqualified.
Without mentioning names, the statement cited instances where individuals lacking the requisite expertise were appointed to key government positions, leading to severe economic and administrative challenges.
It referred to the country’s recent economic difficulties, arguing that poor leadership decisions contributed significantly to Ghana’s financial struggles and the country’s return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The group maintained that Ghana’s economic experiences over the past eight years should serve as a lesson to all political actors.
The Cadres also warned that the same problem exists within political parties, where some individuals with little knowledge of party organization contest for executive positions, only to perform poorly after being elected.
They stressed that such developments create frustration among party faithful, weaken grassroots structures and ultimately affect electoral fortunes.
The Gallant Cadres therefore urged all aspiring polling station, branch, constituency, regional, national and parliamentary executives to conduct honest self-assessments before seeking office.
According to the group, leadership should be viewed as a responsibility to serve rather than an opportunity for personal gain.
They expressed confidence that if political parties emulate the discipline, unity, diligence and selflessness demonstrated by ants, Ghana’s democracy and governance would become stronger and more responsive to the needs of citizens.
The statement was jointly signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Gallant Cadres, Comrade Richard E. A. Sarpong (Father Casford), Deputy PRO Ohemaa Akosua Borngreat, and Secretary Mr. F. Kadan.
