The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has dismissed the assertion that a change in candidates after a sitting president’s two-term leads to a runoff.
He says the NDC has developed strategies to win the upcoming December elections hands-down without going into a runoff.
He explains that the likelihood of an election running into a runoff is heavily dependent on the performance of the sitting president, indicating the NDC is going to secure victory due to the poor performance of the government.
“I strongly believe that the NDC is going to win hands down,”
“We are looking at a one-touch victory, and it has a lot to do with the performance of the sitting president as well. It’s not just a straightforward thing that when there is a change of party, there is a runoff. It depends more on the performance of the sitting president, how well he has performed, or otherwise,” he explained.
He noted that other factors, rather than the performance of the incumbent administration, are also key in arriving at the outcome of the polls.
“The strength of our message of giving hope to a hopeless situation will also impact the campaign. And I think that all put together, we are likely to have a one-touch election victory,” he stated.
The perceived failure of the ruling government, according to Asiedu Nketia, is not enough as the message of the opposition is also crucial in arriving at the outcome of the polls.
General Mosquito, as he is known in the political space, indicated that the state of affairs in 2016 compared to the Akufo-Addo era where things have deteriorated, is clear for all to see the difference between the NDC and NPP.
“Nobody will answer that question for you. I don’t think it lies in the mouth of NDC alone to tell any Ghanaian that we are far worse off as a country now compared to what used to be the situation,” he said on whilst speaking on Accra-based JoyNews Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
He also warned party faithful against complacency.
“All the indications are that this government has failed, but the failure of that government alone cannot put us into power. Let us now bring a better, stronger message and sell it properly to the electorate. Make sure that when they deliver their intentions through voting, we are able to protect the votes until we are declared winners,” he advised.
Reflecting on his earlier warning against complacency, General Mosquito expressed satisfaction with the party’s current efforts.
He noted the increased vibrancy of the youth wing and the active involvement of former appointees and other party members in the campaign.
“Our youth wing has risen up, and they are very vibrant on the campaign scene. All our former appointees and others have come on board the campaign, and each of them is doing what it takes for us to win the elections,” he concluded.
Election 2024: Former EPA boss urges NPP to work hard to ‘break the 8’
