Election 2008 Won’t Be Easy - Vice-President

Ghana's Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has predicted a gruelling battle ahead for political parties in Ghana during the 2008 general election. In his view, not even the party in power can afford to be complacent in its resolve to retain power by next year's elections.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Vice-President denied that he had quit politics and indicated that he would work in the interest of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for it to retain power next year.

Alhaji Mahama, who contested but lost the bid to be the flag- bearer of the NPP, at the December 22, 2007 Congress at Legon, said the elections would not come easy, particularly for his own party.

Alhaji Mahama placed third in the NPP race which was won by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with Mr Alan Kyerematen placing second.

Explaining why he believed the election would be a tough one, the Vice-President said Ghanaians were very discerning and critically examined issues before identifying themselves with any political ideology.

“The Ghanaian voter should not be taken for granted; it is not what you have done or can do only in terms of projects, but especially during moments of decision-making; Ghanaians consider much broader issues,” he stated.

Setting the records straight on media reports that he had quit politics to concentrate on his business, Alhaji Mahama unequivocally denied that assertion and insisted that “politics is my life”.

“I have never said that I am going to quit politics; Clearly I have never said so,” he stated categorically.
Alhaji Mahama said he had a very big constituency to look after and for that reason he could not let them down.

As to whether he would contest the position of president in the near future, he said “I cannot say for sure; it is left for posterity to decide”.

He further gave the assurance that he was a politician and would continue to do politics and work in the interest of the NPP in order to retain power next year.

The Vice-President denied that he had quit politics and indicated that he would work in the interest of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for it to retain power next year.

Alhaji Mahama, who contested but lost the bid to be the flag- bearer of the NPP, at the December 22, 2007 Congress at Legon, said the elections would not come easy, particularly for his own party.

Alhaji Mahama placed third in the NPP race which was won by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with Mr Alan Kyerematen placing second.

Explaining why he believed the election would be a tough one, the Vice-President said Ghanaians are very discerning and critically examined issues before identifying themselves with any political ideology.

“The Ghanaian voter should not be taken for granted; it is not what you have done or can do only in terms of projects, but especially during moments of decision-making; Ghanaians consider much broader issues,” he stated.

Setting the records straight on media reports that he had quit politics to concentrate on his business, Alhaji Mahama unequivocally denied that assertion and insisted that “politics is my life”. “I have never said that I am going to quit politics; Clearly I have never said so,” he stated categorically.

Alhaji Mahama said he had a very big constituency to look after and for that reason he could not let them down.
As to whether he would contest the position of president in the near future, he said “I cannot say for sure; it is left for posterity to decide”.

He further gave the assurance that he was a politician and would continue to do politics and work in the interest of the NPP in order to retain power next year.

Alhaji Mahama said over the last seven years he had tried to bring on board people who were not in line with the NPP especially the Muslim and northern community and people from the Volta Region.

“As the need arises, we will whip up support to enable the NPP to remain the choice of the people in the 2008 general election,” he said.

Alhaji Mahama said he was going to use his last year in office to serve the people of Ghana loyally and still pursue the development agenda of the NPP.

On his immediate impressions after the recent NPP congress, he said the party went through a vigorous exercise and in the end, Nana Akufo-Addo was pronounced winner.

We have all pledged our loyalty and support for him, he stated, and gave the assurance that with time, the rank and file of the party would be able to overcome any bitterness that there may have been.

“It is time for people to say let bygones be bygones so that we hold our party united to win the next general election,” the Vice-President said.

On the strategy to adopt to retain power, he said there was the need to place premium on the floating voters.
“When we talk of the floating voters, we talk of the non-Akans including the northern regions, the Volta Region and the Zongo communities scattered throughout the country particularly in the Brong Ahafo Region and the Western Region,” he said.

Alhaji Mahama said these bulk of voters provided the swing and they constituted the greatest challenge facing the party's bid to win the election in 2008.

He reminded his party faithful of the results that the NPP chalked up in the 2004 elections and said the gap between the two dominant parties was too close for comfort.

“We need to do something convincingly so that we can beat our opponents hands down this time around,” he stated.

Interviewer: Kobby Asmah