Mills Loses Central Again
After virtually ‘sleeping’ in his native region for several months ostensibly to maximize votes, indications are that Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, is heading for a historic third time rejection by the people of the Central region.
According to a Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) report sighted by DAILY GUIDE, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will retain the majority of parliamentary seats in the region come December 7, in addition to winning the presidential polls.
Even Ben Ephson who initially gave it to the NDC has started revising his notes after realizing that Central is not ready to go with the main opposition party.
The region has received its fair share of development projects including the contracts for the construction of fishing harbours and landing sites for fishermen.
The report adds that the tide is again not in favour of the former vice president in the neighbouring Western Region too.
It said even though the NPP had problems in a couple of constituencies in the Central region, the largest opposition party cannot turn the scales in its favour.
“The current situation still puts the NPP ahead of its main rival, the NDC. The likelihood of the NPP retaining the majority of seats it won in 2004 remains high, except in Cape Coast, Agona West and Efutu constituencies, where there is the need for hard work to be done,” the report said.
In 2004, the NPP grabbed 16 out of the 19 parliamentary seats in the Central region, and went ahead to assist the Convention People’s Party (CPP) win the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem seat, leaving just two for the NDC.
This time, the NPP is taking the KEEA seat, depriving the CPP of any seat in the region where its flagbearer also comes from.
On the presidential scale, Professor Mills polled 39.2 percent of the votes as against 58.5 percent for John Agyekum Kufuor. George Opesika Agudey and Dr. Edward Mahama polled 1.4 percent and 0.8 percent respectively.
“An analysis of statistical records of the performance of the NPP and NDC in the past elections suggests that the NPP will still perform well and likely retain its 16 strongholds out of the 19 constituencies, though this may not be a landslide victory compared to 2000 or 2004,” it noted.
The confidential report could be a deadly blow to the presidential aspirations of the NDC leader.
In the Western Region, the report was categorical that even though the margin may not be that wide between the parties in terms of number of parliamentary seats, the ruling party still leads.
The two major parties, it said, have strongholds they would like to retain, but going by the fact that the NPP-dominated areas are more densely populated, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would carry the day.
In the last election, Kufuor had 56.6 percent of total valid votes cast in the region while Mills had 40.8 percent.
Considered to be two of the main swing regions in the country, Western and Central regions are seen as very vital to both parties.
And in its bid to turn the tables, the NDC cashed on the ‘homeboy’ factor in addition to existing internal problems within the ruling party.
This mindset compelled the Mills Campaign Team to almost permanently plant the flagbearer in his region while his running-mate, John Dramani Mahama, does the running around.
As a result of being unduly holed up in the Central Region, Mills failed to tour the Brong Ahafo Region until recently when he made a whistle stop there, while he only managed to campaign in 14 out of the 39 constituencies in the Ashanti region.
The two regions aside, a number of interesting scenarios could occur, with a number of seats being re-distributed across the country.
In the Eastern Region for example, where the NPP is in a commanding lead, expectations are that the ruling party will definitely maximize votes and for a second world bank to augment the Ashanti region.
Upper West Akyem constituency, which has been controlled by the NDC since 1992, could swing to the NPP as the electorate seem to be responding more favourably to the cause of Nana Addo and Nana Yaw Tinkorang.
Interesting developments are expected, however, in the Asuogyaman constituency where NDC’s Rev. Joses Asare Akoto is said to be solidly on the ground.
The Greater Accra Region, according to the report, is where a lot of the action would be. It revealed that, contrary to rumours in the mill, the Adentan and Ablekuma Central constituencies would still be retained by the NPP.
The hotspots however are the Ledzokuku, Trobu/Amasaman, Odododiodoo, Klottey Korley constituencies and Krowor where chances are 50-50 for both parties.
Professor Mills had always been taunted in many political circles over his abysmal performances in the Central Region in the past two general elections.
Political observers contend that if for nothing at all, Mills should have won first at ‘home’, just as Nkrumah, Busia, Limann, Rawlings and Kufuor demonstrated.
And to avoid a third time humiliation, the professor decided to hole himself up at home 24/7 to turn it into his ‘world bank’ but things are not working for him.
The comments by Jerry John Rawlings, NDC founder, that Fantes sold their conscience and were bought by Kufuor did not help matters.
This insult, coupled with an earlier comparison of the chiefs of the area with cats, seems to have left an indelible scar across their hearts.By Bennett Akuaku
Source: Daily Guide
