Tsunami will sweep NPP

The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has sated categorically that the 2008 general election is going to be more than a Tsunami where most sitting Members of Parliament would be removed from office just like what happened during the 2000 elections when seats of prominent ministers in the NDC government lost their seats to less known people.

He said there are credible indications that Ghanaians are calling for a change and have, therefore, seen the NDC as the only alternative party that can salvage the country from the present shambles.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Heritage last Saturday when the Ayawaso West constituency branch of the NDC held its primary to elect a parliamentary candidate, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo said Ghanaians had tasted both the NPP and NDC governments and had come to the realization that the party for the nation was the NDC.

At the constituency congress, one Dr. Ofei beat the favourite contestant, Mariam Sinari, by a single vote. Out of a total of 197 votes cast, Dr. Ofei polled 99 while his opponent Mariam had 98.

He said in the 2000 elections, Ghanaians voted for the New Patriotic Party because of its "deception campaign slogan of Positive Change" but which had long turned to be a hoax as all and sundry now felt disappointed and dejected.

The organiser stated that his party's socialist agenda would definitely triumph over its opponents' which is liberal democracy, pointing out that the NDC is going to appeal to the conscience of the people of Ghana. Mr. Ampofo wondered how, at the time that lots of inflows are coming into Ghana, her external debts continue to rise and, currently, it is at $9.0 billion. He claimed, the huge debt notwithstanding, no meaningful transformation has occurred in the lives of the people.

He said the NDC is going to change the NPP slogan of "Positive Change" into “Progressive Change” saying “therefore it is going to be Positive Change minus Positive Change is equal to Progressive Change."

He said the Ayawaso election was a clear indication that his party had decided to allow internal democracy to remain permanent in the party by creating a level playing field for all prospective candidates. He said the closeness of the election was an indication that the two contestants commanded a lot of respect in the constituency; that was why, even though Mariam lost, she conceptually expressed her willingness to support Dr. Ofei to take the seat from the NPP's I.C. Quaye, who is also the Greater Accra Regional Minister.

Mr. Ofosu Ampofo observed that Zongos are noted to be the traditional allies of the NDC and so, with the needed support and strategic programmes for the two contestants, there was no way they would lose the seat once again. He expressed his joy about the manner in which the election was conducted under an atmosphere of fairness and transparency.

The national organiser said that the primary had shown that delegates believed and trusted in Dr. Ofei. He called on all party followers in the area to rally behind the elected candidate for victory 2008.

Conceding defeat, Madam Mariam Sinari promised to work with Dr. Ofei day and night to ensure victory for the NDC in next year's election. Dr. Ofei on the other hand thanked the delegates for the trust reposed in him and promised not to disappoint them. He said his major priority would be education, promising to ensure that all children of school going age would be made to attend school.

The Heritage