Edwin Louis Cole also known as Ed Cole, was the founder of the Christian Men’s Network, a religious organization devoted to helping Christian men and fathers in the USA. He published many books and preached numerous sermons relating to men and religion. He is quoted to have said that "You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there." He could not have said it better, and I find this quote so profound and instructive at this time when the National Democratic Party – NDC is in a state of disarray. The leadership seems paralyzed and busy blaming themselves whilst others are in the media defending their individual reputation. As for the foot soldiers, they are at the mercy of those pretending like Ostriches that all is well within the party. And vulnerable as they are, and for fear of losing the goodies that come with incumbency, they are quiet and busy jostling to either have a job or the monies the gurus are throwing around though worried the party could lose the forthcoming elections. In Europe and specifically France, austerity measures aimed at improving their economy is the debate and a party in power has lost to an opposition party. In the United States, President Obama has raised the stakes by declaring his support for same sex marriage, whilst the Republican Party Presidential aspirant is busy trying to cash in on the subject by turning to the Christian community. In the UK the phone hacking scandal is ongoing with Rebekah Brooks at the centre. The Chinese who are now described as the new giants in business are busy imitating everything and dumping it everywhere they can. Paradoxically in Ghana, the concentration and priority of the NDC Government is not too different from that of the opposition. The recent is that of the purported seizure of the Umbrella which is the logo of the NDC party by Dr Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. Very serious national issues such as education, health and the filth in our cities amongst others require our attention as a nation, but we have left this to suffer. Instead we have opted for political propaganda and intemperate language which could lead us to a disaster, particularly in an election year when the political temperature is mostly high waiting for the least opportunity. According to William F. Halsey "All problems become smaller if you don't dodge them but confront them." But Robert Fulghum puts it better when he said "If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience. " The leadership of the NDC party ought to have realized this from the unset. This explains why the leadership is blamable. In fact, Professor Mills cannot be said to be blameless. As Leader of the party, we all look up to him for leadership and not the current situation where we are asked to ‘see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil’. Worse of it is the decision of the party Leader to be a ‘father for all’ referring to equal treatment for all persons, be you party member or not. This has resulted in the party denouncing its values (probity, freedom, justice and accountability). How could you treat the New Patriotic Party government which was in charge for eight years, and had to account their stewardship to Ghanaians the same way as the new Government? But how could one handle the two on the same scale? Comparing oranges and apples here seems to be the case. My opinion is that the President simply forgot of our moral and legal obligations as a party in office and has laid the foundation for a kind of ‘I scratch your back now and you scratch mine later’ in favor of the immediate past government. I find this style of leadership and the Woyome type of judgment debt, tantamount to corruption, in fact a gargantuan one. This explains probably the numerous allegations of corruption charges against some officials of the Mills administration. The Leader of the party who doubles as the President of the country ought to have spoken, and done so clearly way back when some of his Ministers suffered some verbal ‘diarrhoea’ on very sensitive issues and matters that bothered on party unity and cohesion. What seems to have eluded them (those in Castle) is that the party gave birth to the Government and not the vice versa. A few examples will suffice. The National Youth Organizer of the party Ludwig Hlodze, who also operates from the Castle instead of the party Headquarter, is on record of driving home on a motorcade. “Who born dog?” This is one case that deserved the swiftest comment of the party Leader who doubles as the President to crack the whip, yet no show. Col. Gbevlo Lartey, the National Security Coordinator in October last year pointed accusing fingers at unnamed persons within the party for being behind a demonstration against him. The group calling itself Concerned Group of the National Democratic Congress went further to demand his exit from the Mills’ Government yet no show by the President. This had to do with the man in charge of security of the state. In February this year, Messrs P. V. Obeng, Kofi Totobi-Quakyi, Ato Ahwoi and Kwamena Ahwoi who are all members of the party, decided to defend what they claim bothers on their reputations. In a statement to the press, they claimed they have been attacked and criticized in the media unfairly by some faceless persons within the party “…obviously in reaction to our perceived roles in the administration of His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills”. But the reputation of the NDC as a party ought to have been paramount and not that of a so called ‘Elder Cadres’. Again no show from the party Leader. Next is the letter to the Leader by the Chairman himself over issues he also claims he could no longer contain. This particular case has confirmed my long held view that the centre of the party cannot hold. Again no show as usual from the Professor. The worse and most unfortunate of incidents is the comment of the General Secretary of the party, who during a meeting to welcome back party members of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) led by Dr Yao Obed Asamoah and his only known member, Bede Ziedeng in October last year. Mr Aseidu Nkatiah who is also known as General Mosquito described the Former President and Founder of the NDC as a dog which has stopped barking, thus allowing the return of the DFP members. In the eight years that the party was in opposition, it was the same Founder who did the same ‘barking’ leading to our electoral success. Where was the General? What about Goosie Tanoh who left to form the Reform Party – Who was barking then? Double standards! President Mills who also doubles as the party Leader is not just a ‘Rawlings man’ but a product of H. E. Jerry John Rawlings. Professor Mills’ indebtedness therefore to the Founder and the party in terms of gratitude for his political life ought not to have been questioned. But once the Leader fails to comment on issues as stated above, it results in a situation as the party finds itself; No united front, No clear agenda and of course No Leadership. The Leader’s refusal to comment on matters like this only encourages other gurus to dictate the pace of things as was the case where Ato Ahwoi is on record of saying to the effect that it will be over his dead body that Spio Garbrah would get any appointment in the Government of Professor Mills. Again, all these actions and inactions of the Leader have resulted in the wrangling, factions and the disunity in the party today. He must therefore speak out particularly in an election year when perceptions are no longer perceptions but the ‘realities’ on the ground. He must show he is in control and not the perception that the Ahwoi’s are ruling. Maybe the current issue of the logo could be the best opportunity to bring some cool heads around a table to discuss matters that affect the party, for it is better late than never. Professor Mills must speak out now. John Vianney/ johnngmentire@yahoo.com