CPP, PNC May Not Get 10% Of Ghanaians? Vote

With a little over four months to the December 7, 2004 general elections, the presidential candidates of the Convention People?s Party (CPP), Mr George Aggudey and the People?s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, will have to assess their strengths, else they will be irrelevant to the December elections. An Analysis of the voting patterns of 2000 presidential elections makes it difficult for analysts to see how the two of them can get more than 10% of valid votes cast. How?

In 2000, Dr Mahama, candidate of the PNC, got 2.9% of the valid votes cast, that is 189, 659. Eleven constituencies in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions accounted for 46.6% of the 189,659 votes, i.e. 88,470. The 11 are West Mamprusi ? 18,091; Bolgatanga ? 15,550; Sissala ? 13,024; Nalerigu ? 10,619; Bongo ? 7,097; Bawku West ? 6,970; Buuk/Yoyoo ? 5,473; Wa East ? 3,330; Wa Central ? 3,771; Lawra ? 2,565 and Nadowli North ? 1,908.

The CPP did not fare better in the 2000 elections. Its candidate, Dr. George Hagan, got 1.8% of valid votes cast ? 115,641. Nine constituencies in Northern, Western, Volta and Central Regions accounted for 33.6% of his total votes ? 38,906. The nine are Choggu/Tishigu ? 9,984; Gukpegu/Sabongida ? 7,208; Kumbungu ? 3,494; Ellembelle ? 3,384; Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem ? 4,179; Mfantsiman East ? 3,688; Tolon ? 2,009; Mion ? 2,656 and North Tongu ? 2,009.

Dear reader, I am sure questions like what shows that Mr Aggudey will not perform better than Prof. Hagan or Dr Mahama will, upon his 3%, are racing through your minds.

Smaller Parties Helping NPP To Win

Contrary to what the smaller opposition parties have been saying, that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) should be voted out of office in the December election, their political strategies and campaigning seem t be rather helping the NPP to retain power.

This assertion was made by the Editor of The Daily Dispatch and a political analyst, Mr Ben Ephson, when he delivered a two-hour lecture to radio broadcasters who attended a ?Trainer of Trainers Workshop, recently in Accra.

Mr Ephson took the broadcaster, drawn from all over the country through a series of details, analysis and statistics on the 1996 and 2000 elections to enable them educate some politicians and listeners who call in and make unguarded political statements, not supported by facts or figures.