The Acting Director of IT and Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahdi Gibrill, has defended the party’s decision to bar government appointees from contesting party executive positions, saying the move is intended to strengthen the party’s effectiveness.
Speaking on ABC in the Morning, Mr Gibrill explained that the directive is focused on protecting the party’s long-term interests, particularly now that it is in government.
“If we are doing things that will help the party, it’s the vehicle that brought the party to government’,” he stated.
He likened the party to a vehicle that must be reinforced to meet the growing demands of governance. “The vehicle came the way it is, so let’s fix it the way it is, let’s strengthen the vehicle to be able to carry the load that we have now,” he said, adding, “We have seen the load.”
According to Mr Gibrill, the central issue behind the decision is operational efficiency within the party. “The consideration is the effectiveness of how to run the party,” he noted.
He was quick to dismiss suggestions that the guideline was imposed by a few individuals, stressing that it followed due process. “The guideline is not a personal guideline, it is a NEC approved guide line,” he said.
Mr Gibrill also revealed that a significant number of those who approved the directive are themselves government appointees. “The NEC that went for the meeting to approve this, 75 % of us are appointees of government and holding party positions,” he stated.
Mr Gibrill said the move reflects the need for the party to remain effective whiles in government, stressing that the party must be guided by clear rules. “In every institution, you should be able to guide yourself,” he said.
