Change campaign strategy —Gabby cautions NPP

The Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Lawyer Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has advised the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to compete with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on who is the ‘uglier’, but rather called on the party to focus on the concerns of Ghanaians.

He observed that there are growing concerns over the way the NPP appears to be allowing itself to be dragged into the arena of ugly contest with the NDC.

According to him, over the last few weeks, the debate on radio and TV has been about who is uglier, with NPP and NDC recounting the other’s record of violence, ethnocentric remarks.

Speaking to the media in Accra, Mr. Otchere-Darko said “ugly competition is the most useless strategy ever in a political campaign. It wins the competitor very little or nothing,” indicating that what it does is to put the public off.

“The message to the public from a competition of who is the ugliest is that none of the competitors is essentially attractive. It is a no win contest,” he noted.

“Moreover, he this competition of the ugly plays right into the hands of the NDC. It is their home ground, NPP goes there in a poor-fit away kit, facing boos from the popular spectator stands as they attempt to play and win a match with a formation that the players are not familiar or comfortable with,” he said.

He therefore hinted that the NPP’s response to this is not to stay on the road of negative recollection of NDC violence but rather shift the debate back to where it matters: by focusing on the concerns and aspirations of the people of Ghana.

He added that the NPP risks blurring the distinction between itself and the NDC; that very defining line which has made the former attractive to independent voters throughout its history.

“More and more, Ghanaians are seeing President Mills and his team as losing touch with the concerns of ordinary Ghanaians. It is the duty of the Republic’s opposition (the NPP) to take the issues back on track. NPP stands to lose more than the NDC by spitting venom and staying on the kind of topics that have dominated the political sphere over the last few weeks.”

Gabby therefore hoped that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will bring all the rumbling issues of the economy “back to basics.”

Mr. Otchere-Darko intimated that Dr. Bawumia’s address at the College of Physicians & Surgeons should serve as the NPP story on how the Mills-Mahama administration has either managed or mismanaged the economy within this four years and why Ghanaians deserve better.

“It is critical for the NPP to use the grain from this speech by Dr Bawumia to drive back the debate onto the road of material public interest. To lose this opportunity is to allow the conductors of negative propaganda the undue auditorium to determine the melody, rhythm and tempo of what ought to be music to the ears of a frustrated Ghanaian public,” he averred.

Gabby trumpeted that “In sum, the NDC has done enough to lose the election; it is up to the NPP to do enough to win the election.”

The livid NPP think tank further hinted of a non-riggable victory for the NPP, intimating that, this voter register is expected to be a marked improvement on the previous one; it has the potential to be the most credible ever.”

“The Danquah Institute estimates between 12.6 million to 12.8 million people representing the voter population of Ghana for 2012. Thus, regardless of the expected rush to beat the deadline during this final 10 days, a little over 2 million people are likely to be included to conclude the exercise.”

Gabby disclosed that the Danquah Institute is estimating 80%-85% voter turnout due to the public desire for its votes to be counted. “The NPP need not show that it is more macho than the NDC. It must use an enhanced strategy for the protection of the ballot. It is not achieved merely by sounding militant.”

Mr. Otchere Darko further added that instead of the NPP saying “beat up people who try to steal a ballot box”, say, “stop anyone who tries to steal a ballot box.” “The NPP only needs to keep reminding its agents and supporters, in a very clear but calm language to be vigilant, calm, knowledgeable and exercise legitimate courage in the face of any intimidation or fraud that may come their way between now and voting day, especially,” he cautioned.

In the view of the Danquah Institute, he noted, the opposition party can do all the above successfully without maintaining an off-putting posture.

“The people see the party as having people with competence and intelligence, and if that is the public image that you have then cherish that perception of higher decency and optimise it to your electoral advantage. Don’t disprove it to the undecided voter at this crucial period.”

The man from the Danquah Institute implored his party to battle for the over 10% of undecided voters to make the 2012 elections smooth sailing for them.

“The battle is about who looks good to voters and not who looks less ugly. Who can be trusted to deliver. This is the nature of the reality show called Election 2012.”**