RETIRED Brigadier General Daniel Mishio has made a passionate call to the leadership of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to recognize the sacrifices and historic contributions of Cadres in shaping Ghana’s democratic and governance progression.
Delivering a message during the 19th anniversary of the United Cadres’ Front on the theme “Resetting Ghana: Reflections on June 19”, in Accra, the senior Cadre described the Cadres as the backbone of grassroots governance and policy direction under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
He stressed that since 1983, Cadres had served as the “first institutional framework” for direct citizen engagement in governance —mobilizing communities, enforcing accountability, and ensuring that the poor and voiceless were heard.
“These were not politicians or elites, but ordinary citizens who stepped up during Ghana’s darkest hours,” he stated. “They worked with honesty, humility, and sacrifice — bringing government to the people when the state was on its knees.”
Gen. Mishio, however, expressed deep disappointment that many of these Cadres have been neglected in recent years, particularly by governments formed by the NDC — the very party built on their efforts.
“There has not been a fair response to Cadres. Some risked their lives at border barricades in 1983 or camped to stabilize the state. Today, they live in hardship and invisibility,” he lamented.
He called on the NDC to return to its revolutionary roots and honour the foundation laid by Cadres, including iconic figures like Signora Adukwei Malik, who helped extend political space to the marginalized, women, and the poor.
Recalling the harsh realities of 1983 (the hunger year) — marked by economic collapse, famine, and isolation — he urged the party to enshrine the Cadres’ resilience in national memory and to offer restitution, dignity, and support to those who kept Ghana’s flame alive.
“If we are truly resetting Ghana,” he concluded, “it must begin with honouring those who built its base.”
Source: Nationaltymes.com
