Charles Takyi-Boadu
2 May 2008
Accra — The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to outstrip the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of the control of the national capital, Accra.
Even before it goes into the 2008 general elections, the party has targeted to win between 20 and 21 out of the 27 Parliamentary seats in the Greater Accra Region. Being the nerve centre of Ghana's political activities, the NDC believes that whoever takes control of the region was likely to win the upcoming general elections.
It is thus mapping out new strategise to win majority of the Parliamentary seats in the capital city.
Regional Chairman of the party, Daniel Anang is confident to win its original 16 seats in addition to the five newly created constituencies.
Once the party is able to win these seats, the NDC says "it's a done deal."
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Anang made a cursory analysis of the political trends that has taken place in the region since the advent of multi-party democracy in Ghana in 1992.
Between the periods of 1992 to the year 2000, the NDC had been winning 16 seats in the region whilst the NPP was winning six out of the initial 22 seats.
The tide however changed in the year 2000 when the NPP gain the people's mandate to steer the affairs of the country.
This time round, the pendulum swinged in favour of the NPP in the other way round, making the ruling party obtain 16 out of the 22 seats in the region whilst the NDC grappled for the remaining six.
Mr. Anang however noted that but for the petty squabbles that existed in the party in constituencies like Krowor, Dade-Kotopon, Osu Korle-Clottey and Adenta, the NDC would have won back all the its 16 seats in region.
For now that the NDC has settle the problems in these areas, the Chairman was optimistic that the party would certainly take control of the national capital.
He strongly held the belief that the pair of the two Johns; Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Hon. John Dramani Mahama as Presidential Candidate and Running Mate respectively would greatly impact on the chances of the party in the upcoming general elections, especially in the Greater Accra Region where the two command a lot of respect with teeming support base.
For him, it is not about the name John instead the track records of the two gentlemen, which spans across the political divide.
Looking at their political career, the Regional Chairman emphasised "they are the pair you would hardly find anything wrong with them."
He described the selection of John Mahama as Running Mate for Professor Mills as significant since according to him, he brings a lot on board to boost the chances of not just the Candidature of Professor Mills but also the party at large.
For him therefore, the selection of John Mahama appeals to a broad spectrum of the electorate even those in the NPP since in his own words "he is an embodiment of an appeal."
This, according to him was evident in the fact that his nomination and subsequent selection has sent shivers down the spines of their opponents in the ruling NPP government which he said has forced the NPP to conduct an extensive search for someone to meet the match.
That notwithstanding, the NDC capo believes no matter who is chosen as Running Mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo they would not meet the match. Simply put, he said, "They just don't have the men."
He claimed NDC, as a party was not bothered by Nana Addo's Candidature, let alone anyone, the one he selects as a Running Mate.
Though he does not take delight in politics of personality attacks, Mr. Anang noted that Nana Addo's record as a politician was stained with dirt. For him, there is thus no way and need to compare and contrast the Candidature of Nana Addo with that of Professor Mills who he claimed to be having an unblemished political record as against Nana Addo.
Asked about the chances of his party in the upcoming elections, the NDC kingpin said, "it's a definite win situation, we shall win the election." He was optimistic the NDC will cross the 50% + 1 vote mark set by the Electoral Commission as a mark for winning the elections.
His argument was that when the NPP was in opposition, it always obtained a percentage of 33% whilst the NDC in opposition has maintained the mark of 45%. This, according to him tells of the individual strengths of both parties, an indication he said puts the NDC miles ahead of the NPP.
In that regard, he said his party was banking its hopes on floating voters to seal the NDCs victory, which according to him, is in the offing.
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