Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin has suggested that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) currently enjoys greater appeal among university students compared to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Addressing participants at the “Political Strategy Lab” event organized by the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), Mr. Markin reflected on student politics and shifting party allegiances on campuses over the years.
“In our time, it was difficult for a student to openly associate with the NDC,” he recalled.
“if you want to contest for leadership on campus and anybody dare says you are an NDC, you lose. No student wanted to hear NDC.
So the NDC boys, when they were hiding to do their meetings, they wouldn’t do their meetings in the open,” he added.
Markin observed that, by contrast, student activists affiliated with NPP’s TESCON felt comfortable operating publicly, buoyed by their party’s campus popularity at the time.
“But NPP Tescon took things for granted. And there was a time I was commending NDC for their transformation. It was misconstrued. Today, I won’t let any fear grip me. I will face the reality and let people misconstrue it. But that is the reality,” he said.
He attributed the NDC’s rising popularity on campuses to robust rebranding efforts, which made the party more attractive to students.
“Our friends in the NDC decided not to give up. They went into rebranding of their party. They branded their party to make it attractive to students.
“But today, TEIN may even be popular than TESCON. Today, students are able to proudly say, I’m NDC because of the brands. The NPP must take note and stop relying on propaganda,” Markin advised.
Recalling a personal experience from Cassford Hall, he mentioned managing his cousin’s campaign for hall president, which ended in a surprise defeat.
“And after the election, we were told that, oh, there was some NDC pickup at Ogwaw Hall area. And he was talking to the president. Somebody used that as propaganda. So that is what made the student vote against him.”
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
