A FORMER New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Mampong in the Ashanti region has rubbished the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) prediction that puts President Mills ahead of Nana Akufo-Addo if the 2012 general election were to be held today.
The EIU�s recently-released poll predicts less than one percent victory for the flag bearer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over NPP flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
But Peter Abum Sarkodie, who has declared his intention to contest the Mampong seat next year as an independent candidate said the poll results �lacked logical reasoning, considering the history of elections and the prevailing economic hardship in the country.�
He argued that while the number of votes for the winner of the presidential poll has dropped by an average of two percent in general elections since 1992, that of the main opposition leaders in those elections appreciated by an average of about three percent.
Mr. Sarkodie said based on the figures of the 2008 presidential election where President Mills won by 50.23 percent as against Nana Addo�s 49.77 percent, Nana Addo will win next year�s polls in the first round.
He further explained that with the current economic hardships coupled with inhumane treatment being meted out to Ghanaians by the president and his appointees �there is no way the good people of Ghana will retain this impassionate government in power.�
Responding to the EIU�s so-called analysis that the NDC is likely to be given the nod because the Ghanaian electorate tends to give those in power two terms before evicting them, Mr. Sarkodie said it was unfortunate and denigrating to the reasoning of Ghanaians.
He said Ghanaians know what they want and when they want it and wondered whether Ghanaians are not reasonable enough to reject a government that has been insensitive to their plight citing instances of high living costs, the abuse of human rights by government and state agencies and the demolition of homes across the country to support his statement.
He believes that with the current crop of political leaders in the country, Nana Addo is the best to lead this country after the 2012 election and pledged to support his candidacy.
Meanwhile, the EIU report has described the 2012 budget as �relatively populist� stating the NDC is taking advantage of incumbency to control the early oil windfall and high commodity prices.
<<Print>>