For the first time in the history of Ghana’s elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is confident of usurping the votes of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the latter’s world bank, the Ashanti region.
With the region earning the accolade as the ‘world bank’ of the ruling party, the opposition have always tried adding up to their votes but have never anticipated anything closer to victory.
However, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NDC, Augustus Nana Akwasi Andrews, has said the Ashanti region will witness a significant increase in the party’s votes pending the upcoming polls.
He tells Nana Yaa Brefo and JB on Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa Friday, March 22, 2024, that the NDC is working assiduously to maximise their votes.
Despite indicating his unwillingness to disclose in percentage, what the NDC is going to gain, he mentioned that they are going to garner 27% more of what they attained in the previous elections.
Meanwhile, the NDC’s John Dramani Mahama fell behind the NPP’s Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with with 26%. That suggests the NDC is expecting not less than 53% of total valid votes cast in the Ashanti region.
“The votes going to be garnered this year from the Ashanti region, it has never happened before. You mark my words, we are still working hard in the region. I can’t disclose the percentage but it will be 27% more than what we had last election,” he confidently stated.
He reemphasised that Ghanaians, particularly those in the Ashanti region, have come to recognize the fallacy of the disparaging narratives spun against the NDC and the former President, John Dramani Mahama.
“They disgraced and shamed John Dramani Mahama with their hate campaign and today Ghanaians know the truth,” he said.
Addressing recent allegations made by Chairman Wontumi, who questioned the origins of NDC’s Vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Nana Akwasi refuted the claims, denouncing them as baseless attempts to tarnish her reputation.
“There is no truth to these allegations propagated by the NPP,” stated Nana Akwasi. “Their aim is to discredit her, but Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang will make history as Ghana’s first female Vice President, inspiring women across the nation.”
Chairman Wontumi’s allegations against Nana Jane Opoku-Agyeman centred on her regional origins, with claims that she hails from the Northern region rather than the Central region as stated.
Additionally, he alleged a clandestine marriage between her and John Dramani Mahama in 2012.
“I challenge Naana Opoku-Agyemang that she isn’t from the Central region, she is from the Northern region. She and her husband, Mr. Opoku-Agyemang are from the Ashanti region. They moved to work at Cape Coast University, it has been 20 years since their marriage was dissolved, so when the marriage was over the name just naturally got stuck on her.
“In 2012, John Dramani Mahama married Naana Jane Opoku-Agyamang secretly. It is a husband and wife affair, they are deceiving former First Lady Lordina Mahama. If Naana Jane thinks I’m lying, she should show the world her birth certificate,” Chairman Wontumi had alleged.
Nana Akwasi has dismissed these assertions as baseless and challenged the authenticity of the claims.
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By Felix Anim-Appau with additional files from Lois Dogbe
