NPP,NDC Kicks Off

By Dave Agbenu and Edmund Mingle
Friday, 12 December 2008

The two frontrunners in the December 28 presidential re-run, the New Patritic Party and the National Democratic Congress have started their campaigning to garner votes in the December 28 run-off.
Shortly after Dr. Kwadwo afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission announced that none of their presidential candidates could obtain the required number of votes to become president of Ghana, representatives of the parties begun sending signals to their supporters across the country on the re-run.
Party songs and jingles were also heard blurring out of campaign vehicles and radio sets.
In addition, party representatives were on hand to assure their supporters that the game is on.
While Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Campaign Chairman of the NPP expressed optimism that the party would win the run-off convincingly, Alex Segbefia, Campaign Coordinator of the NDC, urged the supporters of be steadfast saying, "the journey for change has just begun."
From the results of last Sunday's presidential and parliamentary poll, the NPP's Nana Akufo polled 4,159,439 votes (49.13per cent) while Prof. Mills obtained 4,056,634 votes(47.92per cent), less than 50 plus one percentage needed to quality any of them to be declared president. The NDC however obtained a slim majority in Parliament.
Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey noted that the NPP was convinced of victory because they were ready for the run-off.
That, he said, was stemmed out from the fact that the Party would be modifying its campaign strategy to be able to garner more votes to win the Presidency, although the opposition NDC has a slim majority in Parliament.
Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey, speaking shortly after the declaration of the results of the December 7 poll which did not produce a clear winner for the presidency, the party was would devote all its resources into the campaign for the presidency.
He said although the campaign strategy for the first round was the best, a few modifications would be made to ensure that its maximum benefits were achieved. Meanwhile, Nana Akufo-Addo, NPP's presidential candidate, in his first comments at the beginning of the next round of campaign, was full of praise for Ghanaians for their conduct in the December 7 election. At his residence in Accra, Akufo-Addo told supporters and some media personnel the election was a demonstration of how far Ghana has come with its democracy, adding the Africans can well manage her affairs. He noted that Sunday’s election which resulted in a seemingly balanced parliament could well be chaotic and needed an experience leader and politician to bring all sides on board for purposes of development.
Mr. Segbefia, on the other hand, called on its membership and supporters to rededicate themselves to the cause of the party so as to be able to wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party.
"As we prepare for a run-off we call for a heightening of the fervor and commitment that saw our party achieve what it did in round one," he said in a statement. The party commended its teaming supporters and sympathizers, and Ghanaians in general for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves throughout the election process culminating in the announcement by the EC of the result on Wednesday. The party was particularly grateful for the massive show of support across the country, which it said led to a majority in Parliament and a winning of the Presidential polls in six out of the ten regions. "More significant however is that the NDC did exceptionally well even in areas where it lost with such appreciable votes that go to confirm that the call for change and equity for all is one that is shared by majority of Ghanaians," it noted.
The statement said that based on the results declared by the EC, it was clear that Ghanaians have spoken and have indicated a wish for a change. The party called urged all Ghanaians maintain a high sense of vigilance and peace as "we thread towards the second round voting, and reminded its supporters that there will be trying moments. "The leadership of the NDC calls on all to approach the next round of the process with level-headedness and avoid any acts that will injure the peace," the statement said. It also called on other stakeholders, particularly the media and the security agencies to play their roles responsibly. Prof. Mills, speaking to newsmen earlier at his campaign office in Accra reiterated his pledge to reduce taxes on petroleum products if elected into power in order to assuage the suffering of Ghanaians. He called on the minority parties to join the NDC to unseat the NPP from government.
His statements mark the beginning of three weeks of grueling campaign to herald the December 28 run-off. According to him by results from the first round, the party has the majority seats in parliament and only needed an NDC president to run an efficient government.