The credibility of any government is measured not only by the promises it makes while in opposition but by the consistency with which it upholds those promises when entrusted with power. For the National Democratic Congress (NDC), its recent decision to lift the ban on the sale of state lands raises serious questions about political consistency, accountability, and respect for the expectations of the Ghanaian people.
For years, the NDC strongly criticised the previous administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for what it described as the reckless and self-serving sale of state lands. The party accused the NPP of looting public property and converting valuable national assets into private possessions for political elites. These accusations were not mild political rhetoric; they were repeated forcefully across campaign platforms, public forums, and media engagements.
During that period, the NDC positioned itself as the defender of the national interest. It promised Ghanaians that if given the mandate to govern, it would not only halt the sale of state lands but would also retrieve those that had allegedly been improperly acquired.
Central to this promise was the proposed use of the ORAL mechanism to reclaim public lands and investigate corruption-related activities associated with their sale.
It is therefore deeply concerning that nearly two years into the NDC administration, the public has yet to see clear and convincing evidence that these lands have been recovered. Instead, what has emerged is a policy decision that appears to contradict the party’s earlier stance: the lifting of the ban on the sale of state lands.
This development inevitably raises difficult but necessary questions. If the NDC once believed that the sale of state lands created opportunities for abuse, why is the same practice now being reopened under its own administration? If the party argued that such transactions deprived the nation of valuable public assets, what has suddenly changed to justify reversing that position?
Public trust in governance depends heavily on consistency between words and actions. When political parties campaign vigorously against a particular policy but later embrace it once in office, citizens are left wondering whether principles are merely tools for electoral victory rather than genuine commitments to national development.
The situation becomes even more troubling when viewed in the context of the promises surrounding the ORAL initiative. The initiative was widely presented as a mechanism to retrieve looted state assets and investigate corruption-related scandals associated with previous administrations. Many Ghanaians welcomed this commitment, hoping it would mark a new era of accountability and transparency.
Yet, nearly two years into governance, the public has received little information about the concrete outcomes of this initiative, particularly regarding the recovery of allegedly looted state lands. Instead of visible progress on retrieving public assets, the government has taken a step that may potentially reopen the very avenues it once condemned.
To the ordinary Ghanaian, this contradiction is difficult to understand. If the previous government’s actions were wrong, the expectation was that a new administration would correct those wrongs, not replicate the same policy environment that made them possible.
The issue at stake is larger than partisan politics. State lands are national assets meant to serve the long-term interests of the Ghanaian people. Their management must therefore be guided by transparency, accountability, and policies that prioritise public interest over private gain.
Lifting the ban on the sale of state lands at a time when questions about past transactions remain unresolved risks sending the wrong signal. It creates the impression that political parties may strongly oppose certain practices while in opposition, only to adopt them when political power changes hands.
If the NDC hopes to maintain the confidence of the electorate and preserve its reputation as a party committed to protecting public resources, it must urgently address these concerns. Ghanaians deserve clear answers on the status of the lands that were allegedly looted, the progress made under the ORAL initiative, and the safeguards that will prevent the misuse of state assets in the future.
Governance demands consistency. Political credibility requires that promises made to the people not be abandoned once power is secured.
The Ghanaian electorate is increasingly attentive and discerning, and it expects its leaders to stand by the principles they once championed.
If the NDC truly seeks to demonstrate that it represents a new direction in governance, then it must ensure that its actions reflect the values it so passionately defended while seeking power. Otherwise, the troubling question will remain: why do political parties often appear to reason better in opposition than when they finally assume office?
The Trial News
Abu Kalaa Abraham
Mar 16, 2026 9:11 pmGreat Piece for the political class.