NDC Losing Grounds In Greater Accra

An analysis of the voting pattern in the Greater Accra Region from 2004 to 2012 shows that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is losing grounds in the region, Mr Daniel Amartey, a regional chairman aspirant of the party, has said. Mr Amartey, who is a former Municipal Chief Executive of Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) in the region and has been a member of the NDC for the past 22 years, said every effort must, therefore, be made to reverse the trend. In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he underscored the need for delegates of the party�s Greater Accra Regional congress on Saturday to elect aspirants with proven track records to enhance the fortunes of the NDC in the 2016 Election. Three aspirants - Mr Amartey, Mr Henry Ekow Manly-Spain and Mr Stephen Akwetey - are keenly contesting the incumbent regional chairman, Mr Ade Coker, at the party�s regional delegates congress scheduled for this Saturday. Voting trends Showing the Daily Graphic NDC voting patterns in 2004, 2008 and 2012, Mr Amartey pointed out that the general performance of the party in the region for 2008 and 2012 elections were not good. For instance, the NDC in 2004, garnered 46.64 per cent of the total number of 2,098,780 registered voters while NPP got 51.71 per cent of the total number of registered voters in the region. Even though the party was still in opposition in 2008, the NDC party managed to increase its percentage to 52.11 per cent out of the total number of 2,514,739 registered voters, with the ruling NPP settling for 46.03 per cent. The NDC in the run-off in 2008 came back stronger with 54.45 per cent of the total number of 2,514,739 registered voters while the NPP sank further with 45.54 per cent of the total number of registered voters in the region. However, in 2012 the NDC, which was elected to form a government, went down in the Greater Accra Region with 52.31 per cent while NPP in opposition increased its stakes by snatching 46.92 per cent, which was a slight improvement over their performance in 2008. The voting pattern was not in favour of the NDC in 2012 either as the party was able to win only two seats out of the seven newly created constituencies in the region. Mr Amartey argues that the achievement of the NDC while in opposition reflected the remarkable work of the regional officers at that time. As the Constituency Chairman for Ledzokuku from 2004 to 2009, Mr Amartey also pointed out that the number of votes in his constituency increased from 48.90 per cent to 55.80 per cent and further increased to 56.16 in the 2012 Election. He added that the NDC in his constituency was also able to change the winning ways of the NPP from 38,100 in 2004 to 31,603 in 2008 while the NDC increased its voters from 37,386 in 2004 to 41,359 in 2008, all these achievements being spearheaded by his leadership in the area. Currently, Mr Amartey argues that the NDC in the region has lost two-thirds of its majority in Parliament. It now has 20 out of 34 seats in the region. Winding up campaign According to Mr Amartey, he is currently winding up his campaign with visits to NDC Members of Parliament in the region and constituency delegates. He said as an experienced, tried, tested and proven political leader, he was offering the rank and file of the party a humble, dedicated service if given the opportunity to serve the party as regional chairman. He said throughout his rounds, complaints of lack of resources and motivation for constituency and party work were issues of concern. No wonder, he said, it did not come to him as a surprise when 22 out of the 34 constituency chairmen in the Greater Accra Region were kicked out of office. �In one of the constituencies -La Dadekotopon, all the executive members were changed, dismissing the assertion that you do not change a winning team,� he declared. Mr Amartey said �the NDC is a big congress which allows all shades of opinion to play a role in party activities.�