2016 Polls: NDC Can’t Make Even 40% – NPP

Due to the poor performance of the government, it will be a miracle if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) makes more than 40 per cent in Ghana’s upcoming presidential poll, claims Stephen Amoah, the acting Ashanti regional organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party.

According to him, the NDC’s ambition to win one million votes in the region – the stronghold of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) – in this year’s elections will not happen unless the party resorts to violence and rigging.

“How will people in Ghana, including the Ashanti Region, considering such governance, give one million votes to the NDC? Perhaps they [the NDC] think they will have it like they did in 2012 when they beat and wounded people, and say they have won the election,” Mr Amoah told Chief Jerry Forson on Ghana Yensom, Accra100.5FM’s morning show, on Tuesday June 28, 2016.

“Otherwise, if the NDC garners even 40 per cent of votes in the 2016 polls, it will be a big surprise to me.”

Mr Amoah’s remarks were in response to the Ashanti regional NDC’s release on Monday June 27 stating that it had gathered intelligence that the NPP intended going on a violent demonstration to divert attention from the president’s Accounting to the People tour of the region, which it warned would be met with reasonable reaction. But the NPP executive said the NDC would be given a reality check on voting day if it felt the visit of Mr Mahama was a threat to the fortunes of the NPP in 2016.

The statement, signed by communication officer Samed Akalilu, indicated: “We see this as a sign of ungratefulness, if not wizardry, in the face of the unparalleled infrastructural developments given this region by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama over the past three years. While the NDC remains the most peaceful political entity in our country, we wish to state that any attempt to mar the beauty of the president's activities shall be met with the reasonable force it deserves.”

During the three-day tour, President Mahama is expected to inspect and inaugurate projects, pay courtesy calls on chiefs and elders and also interact with traders.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti regional Police Command is assuring the public that security arrangements are in place ahead of Mr Mahama’s visit. Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander ACP Ampofo Duku told Class News: “We have adequately prepared for the visit of President Mahama to ensure that his working visit will go on in peace.”