General News of 2012-10-20

Mahama's position on ballot paper coincides with onetouch victory – Omane Boamah

Deputy Sports Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah has said that the number 1 spot where President John Dramani Mahama has been placed on the ballot paper, chimes perfectly with the onetouch victory the ruling party is working hard for.

The NDC secured the top spot on the ballot paper after Friday's balloting at the Electoral Commission to determine the positioning of the candidates.

The remaining Six contesting political parties were placed in order of; Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) - Number Two, New Patriotic Party (NPP) - Number 3, Progressive People's Party (PPP)- Number 4, United Front Party (UFP) - Number 5, People's National Convention (PNC) - Number 6, Convention People's Party (CPP) - Number 7 and the Independent candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah was Number 8.

Reacting to the above on Joy FM’s Election Headquarters Friday, the deputy minister said though winning an election is not necessarily based on where a candidate is placed on the ballot paper, the party will take advantage of the position and communicate that effectively with their supporters.

He stressed that the achievements of the party in their 3-4-years rein, coupled with their proposed policies for the future will propel the NDC to success.

"We have not taken Ghana to paradise but any objective assessor of our performance will clearly indicate...we have done very well"

Meanwhile Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea has indicated that where a candidate is placed on the ballot paper is immaterial because in 2000, the NPP won the elections even when the party's candidate was placed at the bottom of the ballot paper.

He admitted though that some peripheral advantage may inure to the benefit of the NDC, he maintained it is the performance of the party and the alternatives proposed by the opposition that will determine who wins.