“We expect Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP to be victorious at the December presidential and legislative elections, given popular frustration with Ghana’s poor economic performance under the recent NDC administration,” London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the Economist Magazine has predicted in its October edition released yesterday.
According to the EIU, the outcome of the polls “is by no means a foregone conclusion, however, with the results likely to be close. The NPP will need to work hard to attract votes from outside its heartlands in central Ghana while maintaining internal unity.”
This is not the only time the EIU has predicted unassailable victory for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its leader, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo this year.
Previous EIU Ghana’s reports had cited the economy as the main problem of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, noting that it would send the party to opposition because of poor management.
The July report said the discontent over adverse economic conditions in the country is likely to cost the ruling party the elections.
The latest report, which was categorical about the NPP’s victory said, “The NDC will continue to enjoy strong support in the east and north of the country, owing to historical and tribal allegiances.”
Greater Accra, a historically swing state, the EIU said, would be a “key battleground, and so tensions in this economic hub could disrupt business operations.”
“Whichever party wins in 2016 is expected to preside over an improving economic situation and this will bolster its support in 2020, making re?election the most likely outcome.”
Nana Jabs Mahama
Campaigning in the Ashanti Region during his four-day visit, Nana Akufo-Addo said, “The president claims all is moving on smoothly in Ghana, the reason why he is seeking a renewal of his mandate in office. President Mahama, clearly, does not feel your pain and suffering. He is impervious to the hardships Ghanaians are going through on a daily basis in their efforts to make ends meet. I doubt if he is living in Ghana with us, because if he was, he wouldn’t be making such comments.”
Speaking at Kramoase, in the Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency, Nana Addo said he was at a loss as to why Mr Mahama would make comments to the effect that all is well with Ghana, in the midst of record levels of unemployment, rising cost of living, high utility tariffs, widespread despondency and untold levels of hardship and suffering amongst the populace.
Nonetheless, the NPP presidential candidate is urging Ghanaians not to lose hope in the ability of the country to offer citizens a decent standard of living, stressing that an Akufo-Addo-led NPP government is coming into office to improve the conditions of living of Ghanaians.
“We have an opportunity this year to rid our nation of the suffering and hardship the Ghanaian is going through under the leadership of President Mahama. When we vote for a competent government in December, I assure you that Ghana will be put on the path of progress and prosperity once again. That is the task before us in Ghana in this year’s election,” Nana Akufo-Addo stressed.
A DAILY GUIDE Report