The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is facing growing internal discontent as lawyers who played pivotal roles in the party’s 2024 election collation exercise have reportedly been sidelined in the distribution of post-election appointments.
The lawyers, numbering over 270, were deployed across the country as part of a deliberate strategy by the party to ensure credible results collation and minimize electoral irregularities.
Their presence was hailed as instrumental in safeguarding the NDC’s interest in what was ultimately a successful election for the party and its presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama.
However, six months after Mahama’s victory, these legal professionals say they have been completely ignored by the party leadership, sparking a wave of anger, disillusionment, and what some fear may grow into widespread disaffection within the rank and file.
In an article written by Qombadiena Wahab Esq, one of the lawyers, the party has not appointed even a single individual from among them to any position since assuming power.
Another lawyer, who said he was deployed to Kumasi in the Manhyia Constituency from Accra via Passion Air, said the party bigwigs no longer answer their calls.
At the centre of the controversy is a promise allegedly made by the Deputy Director of Elections, “Dr.” Rashid Tanko, during an orientation meeting in Tamale.
According to accounts by some of the lawyers, Dr. Tanko assured them that appointments would be available for those who participated in the 2024 electoral process. But neither he, Omane Boamah, election director nor the head of the NDC’s legal team, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, is said to have followed up since.
All of these persons have since grabbed juicy appointments.
“They used us and dumped us,” one of the affected lawyers said bitterly. “If people with such expensive qualifications and commitment to the party can be treated this way, what hope is there for the ordinary grassroots member?”
The neglect has sparked wider criticism of the party’s current posture in government, particularly over what some see as an elite-driven appointment strategy that favours individuals with no prior history of sacrifice or loyalty to the party.
Critics argue that this alienates core supporters who endured years of opposition, threats, and financial hardship under the previous NPP administration.
The backlash is also being fuelled by suspicions that some senior figures within the party are hoarding appointments and resources to strengthen their positions ahead of internal contests in 2026.
Party insiders warn this could cost the NDC dearly in the next general election, especially since former President Mahama whose personal popularity is widely credited with the party’s 2024 win will be ineligible to run again.
“The goodwill this party enjoys is because of Mahama. Period. If we think that means we can now abandon our base, then we are setting ourselves up for failure in 2028,” a party activist stated.
Beyond the legal team, other long-serving grassroots members and technocrats are said to be growing increasingly disillusioned, especially those who were targeted under the Akufo-Addo administration for their NDC affiliations. Many now watch, jobless, as known NPP operatives occupy key roles under the new government.
There is also discontent over reported appointments of individuals with prior ties to the NPP, including a former TESCON Women’s Commissioner and aide to an NPP presidential aspirant, who allegedly secured a high-profile government job after defecting and publicly criticising her former party.
“Is that now the only qualification needed to serve in an NDC government—defecting from the NPP and making noise?” one aggrieved member asked.
The growing unease has given rise to warnings that the NDC could be heading toward the same mistakes that cost it power in 2016.
Calls are mounting for the party leadership to pause, reflect, and engage meaningfully with its base before the cracks widen.
If ignored, critics warn, the current discontent could lead to a voter backlash in 2028. Without Mahama on the ticket, many believe the NDC will be vulnerable—and disunity within could become its greatest weakness.
“We are not children of a lesser god,” the statement concluded. “There is a limit to how much the party base can endure. The time to act is now.”
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USED AND DUMPED ONCE MORE: THE NDC ON THE DRAWING BOARD IN 2029.
One can almost predict what will happen when the NDC loses power in 2028. They will pretend to be sober, pretend that the people of Ghana are not grateful, pretend that they have done all for re-election and still loses. They will blame each other and individuals who didn’t inspect their mandates. They will set up a committee to investigate why they failed yet again. One result will be certain, they have betrayed their base yet again.
My people say that when your neighbour’s beard is on fire, you fetch water and douse it and if you are careless enough, your fetch water and keep by your side. The rational is that it may extend to yours. The NDC is piling drums of petrol by theirs, after NPPs beard has almost reached its chin, grazed by an inferno of corruption and betrayal, brazen disrespect and utmost disregard for their supporters.
Six months after Ghanians confirmed President John Dramani Mahama overwhelmingly as president, the party has forgotten about the 49% constant voters who defend and sacrifice in various ways for the party to come to power. They have opted instead for fanciful appointments involving aristocratic ties with members of the opposition party.
They party does not have to sack people because they are not NDC in order to replace them, but the party in appointing people to occupy any position must not appoint people who have no sacrificed in anyway for the party to come to power. These anomalies come in different ways.
First and foremost, Dr Rashid Tanko, Deputy Director of elections speaking to the Lawyers in Tamale during their orientation to guard the collation room as agent of then Candidate John Dramani Mahama said that they would have their appointments waiting for them. Six months into elections, they are yet to hear from either Dr Tanko or Mr Tamakleo who is the head of the legal team. In effect, even lawyers with one of the most expensive and intelligent qualifications are used and dumped by the party.
Why is it dangerous? In elections 2020, the party piloted the use of legal practitioners in some constituencies and realises that there were minimal returns of irregularities and breach of process. This informed the need to use a little over 276 lawyers across the various constituencies during election 2024. The impact cannot be discounted. These lawyers are dumped, that is the word to use because there is absolutely no communication to them whatsoever. If lawyers are used and dumped, can you talk about the grassroot, most of whom have minimal or no qualification at all?
Secondly, the way some Big Wigs are controlling appointments in order to gain advantage in the 2026 internal elections, they may win but become leaders in opposition once more which they know how to do. Their penchant for division and isolate and destroy attitude will not only hurt their opponents, it will hurt the party. When you reject hard working party members because you think their names are presented by people you don’t like or people who did not support you in previous elections, you are the problem of the party and your attitude will cost the party.
Thirdly, there is disaffection from the grassroot and it seems to be reaching a climax with the speed of light. The party should remember that John Dramani Mahama will not be the candidate in the next election. The goodwill the party is enjoying is his. Nobody should pretend. He is the one doing well. So when you look at the party’s approval ratings and tickle yourself to a fanciful thought of abandoning your grassroot, we will fail together and “danniemas” will fly in your faces while EOCO and BNI start to harass you under our quietude.
Fourthly, there are still party people with qualifications who were sacked or traumatised by the NPP in the last eight years. They are watching their opponents bask in power while they remain in penury and to the mockery of these same guys. The party’s flagship programs, if they will happen, will be manned by NPP appointees. That is how people fail. When the only qualification to the presidency, by a former TESCOM WOCOM and NPP presidential aide is to defect and shout at his former party, then there is no need to defend this party.
If being a member of a party for over thirty 30 years, manning polling stations for over 20 years, serving TEIN and the party in various capacities. Having high academic qualifications and being able to draft proposals to translate the party’s manifesto into action plan cannot get you a job in the NDC, the party is not worth the support of the masses.
The future is predictable, so predictable if things do not change in the coming month. There is a limit to the insults the Big Wigs are currently hurling. The time to revolt is close. So close.
WE ARE NOT CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD
THE LORD ADVOCATE
