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THE LARGEST opposition political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has stated that they do not believe in President John Mahama�s public assurance that the NDC government will ensure that the coming elections will be held in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere. According to them, all the three by-elections in the country, Akwatia, Chereponi and Atiwa, held during the NDC�s administration were marred by violence and bloodbath so they did not trust the government in ensuring that the forthcoming polls would be free, fair and peaceful. Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a leading member of the NPP, said the president ought to back his rhetoric of ensuring peaceful polls with visible and concrete actions on the ground which would make Ghanaians believe that indeed the polls would be an incident-free affair. Despite the president�s promises of ensuring peaceful polls, the NPP guru pointed out that on the grounds, the NDC government had done nothing which would ensure that indeed the polls would be held in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner. Dr. Apraku, who is the Vice Chairman, NPP Economic Committee, noted that the NDC�s credibility level in making the polls free, fair, transparent and peaceful was �zero,� citing the troubles that characterised the Chereponi, Atiwa and Akwatia by-elections to support his conviction. The former NPP parliamentarian for Offinso North consequently charged the Ministry of Interior to immediately call a meeting with the political parties and outline the national security plan of making the polls peaceful. That would restore confidence and reduce the tension and fear that had gripped Ghanaians, including the traditional leaders, religious leaders, market women, students, businessmen among others who were afraid that the coming polls might plunge Ghana into civil strife. Dr. Apraku, who had been touring the country lately, noted that there was apprehension among Ghanaians with regard to the polls turning bloody. He noted that the NPP had been receiving unfavourable reports about the NDC�s intention of adopting unorthodox means to stay in power. Dr. Apraku said information reaching the NPP indicated that the NDC was in contact with some machomen who had been frequenting the regional coordinating councils in Kumasi and Sunyani, planning how to rig and cause troubles during the polls in favour of the NDC. Considering what happened during the national registration exercise, he noted that the NPP was taking the NDC and machomen rumour seriously. The NPP, he pointed out, was a political party that believed in democratic rule and would therefore accept the genuine outcome of the polls without any hesitation.