NDC Deputy General Secretary, Foyo M. Gbande, has urged unity and tranquility among the members of the party amidst growing concerns from the grass roots about what most people feel is abandonment in the wake of the NDC's bitterly contested election.
On Facebook, after considering comments gathered during a recent stakeholders' forum, Gbande mentioned the frustrations being voiced by members and supporters and promised them that their complaints have not gone unheard.
On the basis of a sustained analysis of the many issues and observations presented in our recent stakeholder consultations, I would like to address the sense of desperation and disillusionment being expressed by sections of our rank and file," he wrote on October 14.
He said it was to be expected that there would be high demands after the party returned to power, and he mentioned that perceptions of neglect from some members are a result of the huge sacrifices they made during the campaign.
"We fully acknowledge that expectations are high after the painful fight we have jointly won. I acknowledge that there are comrades who feel excluded or abandoned during the immediate post-election period. Those feelings are not unwarranted — they stem from genuine sacrifice and dedication," he stated.
Members were requested by Gbande to exercise patience as leadership tries to come up with fair and sustainable solutions to issues of employment, welfare, and membership in the party.
I urge everyone to remain calm and composed as leadership deliberates on concrete and feasible ways of addressing employment, welfare, and relationship issues in our institutions," he said.
He reminded supporters that the party leadership is committed to the common good and urged restraint in public display of frustration, worrying that splits would weaken the movement.
We should always be guided, balanced, and together in our message, recognizing that divisiveness works for nobody other than our opponents," he warned.
Gbande concluded his address on a note of perseverance and faith in the leadership, urging that patience and resilience always yield outcomes.
"Let us remain focused. Let us remain disciplined. And let us recall that patience and resilience always triumph in the end," he stated.
A few months ago, several NDC grassroots activists and supporters complained of disappointment with what they refer to as abandonment following the return to power by the party.
Campaigners and campaign workers took to local party forums and social media to demand recognition, appointments, and jobs, citing the sacrifices they made to allow the party to take power.
Party leaders have since been going around various groups across the country to listen to grievances and hold expectations in check. The forums have centered on unity, discipline, and continued trust in the leadership's commitment to inclusivity and fair sharing of opportunities.
Foyo Gbande's latest message is part of broader efforts to calm nerves and build solidarity in the NDC as it struggles to follow through on its promises to Ghanaians.