<<Print>>

Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, believes victory in the 2012 General Elections will not be determined by ones financial clout or pedigree in society. He was commenting on the aftermath of the just ended NDC parliamentary primaries in some orphan constituencies, with particular interest on the Dome-Kwabenya contest. Less than 48hours after her failed parliamentary bid, Mrs Zita Okaikoi engaged in a heated verbal spat with the victor Madam Sophia Akuaku, accusing her opponent in Saturday�s primaries of influencing votes in her favour by bribing delegates prior to the primaries. She even threatened to go to court to have her opponent disqualified. Mrs Zita Okaikoi who is also a Former Deputy Minister of Tourism and Information says Madam Sophia Karen Akuaku, a contractor and social worker, greased the palm of each delegate with an amount of GH�300 with a promise of another GH�300 if she won. But in a sharp riposte, Madam Sophia Akuaku expressed shock at Zita's accusation that she (Akuaku) had bribed delegates whereas she (Zita) had indulged in the same practice. Speaking as a panelist on Peace FM�s Kokrokoo Morning show, Kwesi Pratt said any politician who indulges in a show of unbridled affluence in the 2012 election, might see his or her money going down the drain. �The 2012 election is not about the amount of money you have; that will not determine your victory� if you look at the NDC primaries and its aftermath, you can say that some people really did invest their money but they didn�t achieve what they wanted; so money is not the be-all factor�election is not also about big names �the NDC should know that the 2012 election is no child�s play and if they want to be victorious, they should understand that unity is very important�,� he said. The outspoken journalist also cautioned the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to be joyous over the fallouts of the ruling party�s primaries. �As for the NPP, they think per the results of the NDC (parliamentary) primaries, everything is a done deal. If that is the case then they (NPP) should stop campaigning and go to bed. But that is not the case and it does not change anything�If they (politicians) don�t focus on alleviating poverty and solving issues for Ghanaians, they (Ghanaians) will no longer vote in the future�because they vote for development and not because of their personal interest�,� he added.