NDC to launch "operation win ballot box"

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the weekend announced a campaign strategy dubbed: “Operation Win the Ballot Box,” which seeks to police the electoral process to ensure that, the outcome of Election 2008 is not tampered with at any stage.

“The period from casting to counting is a very crucial moment for winning election, the NDC therefore has started the process of politically empowering its foot soldiers and the rank and file to understand the electoral process.

“Elections are won or lost mainly on the Election Day, as a veteran politician who had won three consecutive elections at Bole Bamboi, if you campaign hard but on Election Day you go to sleep, trust me, you will loss.

“We will therefore educate our members on the operational modalities to win the ballot box at every polling station, we must ensure that, all the political stakeholders on Election Day adhere to their core functions,” Mr John Dramani Mahama, NDC vice presidential candidate for Election 2008 told the Ghana News Agency at Kumasi over the weekend.

He called for vigilance to ensure that “no one steals the mandate of the people through the back door mainly due to electoral inexperience of polling station agents.”

Mr. Mahama, who was recently announced as the running mate to Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC flag bearer urged NDC supporters, especially those who would be selected as polling station agents to trust the electoral officials, “but verify the information before you used it”.

Speaking to students of the Winneba College of Education, Kumasi Campus branch of Tertiary Education Network of the NDC, Mr. Mahama explained: “I am a candidate capable of eliminating intra and inter party antagonism, a disposition essential to attract floating voters.

“I standout among the lot as the most affable, politically mature, with an unblemished reputation both in private and in public life, international exposed and highly connected, high diplomatic negotiation skills and ability to work with every Ghanaian irrespective of one's political background.”

These qualities we need to complement Prof. Mills to ensure that the party wins massively during the December polls, he noted, stressing; “I salute all leading members of the party for their contribution towards the development of the great NDC.

“We should all marshal resources as victory is knocking at our doorstep, we need the support of all members, we must all come home and be part of the winning team.”

He also urged the students to approach Election 2008 campaigning with peaceful attitude, tolerate opposing views but must be vigilant.

Mr. Mahama observed that Election 2008 posed a great challenge to all institutions that have significant and vital roles to play for the attainment of a free and fair poll.

The contributions of bodies like the executive, parliament, judiciary, political parties, the media and the general public are very crucial for the survival of the country's young democracy.

He therefore challenged the other political parties not only to profess peace but adopt pragmatic measures to ensure that the pronouncement of their followers both in public, especially on the airwaves does not instigate violence.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South disclosed that peace, transparency would be the hallmark of NDC Government and urged the electorate to vote massively for Prof. Mills and NDC parliamentary candidates across the length and breadth of the country.

Other leading members who accompanied Mr. Mahama to Kumasi, described as stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party, were Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary, Mrs. Ama Benyimah Doe, Women Organiser, Mr. Mohamed Ayariga,
MP for Bawku Central.