NPP stalwart, Nana Akomea has no doubt his party shall emerge victorious in the December polls stressing the Bureau of National Investigations and Economic Intelligence survey’s report forecasting victory for the ‘Development in Freedom’ party does not surprise him.
Making his case on Newsfile, the NPP Communications Director rebuffed claims by National Democratic Congress operatives that the Nana Addo led party is ill prepared for the proposed November 7 election date hence their vote against the passage of the amendment bill.
He said although the New Patriotic Party in principle supported the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2016 to enable a smooth transition from one government to another and give the Electoral Commission (EC) ample time to stage a successful run-off election, the EC by deeds have proven its words cannot be trusted hence the ‘NO’ vote to give it the extra month to get its house in order.
“Even in the Ga South district the EC machines don’t work, people who came to verify their names were directed to other districts†he stressed.
According to the Nana Akomea, the load shedding debacle, hassling of citizens with exorbitant ECG bills, shut down of Senior High Schools in Northern Ghana thanks to failure of government to send feeding grants all point to heavy defeat for the incumbent NDC adding it was ironic that a party with majority in parliament failed to be fully represented by its members when they knew a critical vote was at hand yet blame the NPP for voting against the bill.
But Kofi Adams, coordinator for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s 2016 election campaign quickly countered Nana Akomeas’ claims informing Sampson Lardy Ayenini that “it was not possible for a voter to be directed to another district even if he encountered a problem at his centre.â€
Mr Adams rendered the NDC was ready for victory intimating that as far as he could tell, it was Nana Addo who was rather roaming without a message hopping on the visible achievements and plans of president Mahama to make vain promises including the ‘One District, One Factory’ pledge.
He submitted, after seeing the massive school projects and other infrastructural feats president Mahama has unleashed, Nana Addo quickly pledged to add boarding units to deprived SHS, terming Nana Addo’s tactic as pair trawling implying he moves or makes pledges after Mr Mahama unveils a new project.
According to Kweku Baako Jnr., he recalls that the Constitutional Review Committee had recommended the November 7 date, supported by the Electoral Reform Committee set up by the EC.
He noted the 2000 and 2008 election run-offs gave urgency to the November 7 call so the EC and other stakeholders could better be prepared for eventualities.
“I am disappointed but not surprised by the vote pattern in parliament leading to the bill not getting passed and upon reflection think its better this way.â€
He described accusations that the NPP was not ready for the elections as infantile.
The EC had tabled a proposal to change the December 7 general elections voting date to November 7 to enable a smoother transition between an outgoing government and a new one as well as have ample time to organise a run-off election should the case arise.
But 125 Members voted YES in favour of the date change while 95 voted NO to reject the date change. The votes still fell short of the 184 YES votes needed for the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2016 to pass into law.
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