NDC 1 million votes in A/R impossible - Ben Ephson

Renowned Pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Mr. Ben Ephson has indicated that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC's) target of winning one million votes in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) stronghold; Ashanti Region, is an over-ambitious and difficult task.

Party executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region have mapped out a strategy to win as many as a million votes in the region. This will make victory in the 2016 general election a certainty for the NDC, a former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Yaw Adusei, has disclosed

According to Mr. Adusei, a thank-you tour initiated by President John Dramani Mahama in the region last year, where he expressed the desire of increasing their fortunes in the region in the next election, ignited their dreams to design the Operation One Million Votes strategy.

Giving statistics to buttress his point, he said in the 2008 election, the NDC succeeded in winning over 400, 000 votes in the Ashanti Region, considered the stronghold of the opposition NPP, and in the 2012 general election, they increased their votes in the region to 612,000 votes.

But addressing electoral fortunes of the ruling NDC in the Ashanti Region on Okay Fm’s "Ade Akye Abia" Morning Show, Ben Ephson related the desire of the NDC in Ashanti Region to a fighter who will not accept defeat despite his knowledge of the consequences.

He said though the ruling party [NDC] almost had 617,000 votes in the Ashanti Region in the 2012 elections, the one million votes will be difficult to attain in the 2016 elections.

He however added he will not be surprised if the NDC gets 800,000 votes in the Ashanti Region in the 2016 elections "but the 1 million votes is a mission impossible"; reiterating that NDC could still lose the 2016 elections if they get the 1 million votes in Ashanti Region and lose the three swing electoral regions [Central, Western and Greater Accra].

“NDC 1 million votes in the Ashanti Region will be very difficult; 1 million and that is they are talking about getting 34 percent….I think that will be very difficult for NDC to get in the 2016 elections. In 2012 election, they had almost 617,000 votes….I won’t be surprised if they get 800,000 votes, but the 1 million votes will be very difficult. If NDC wins their 1 million target votes in Ashanti Region and lose the three swing electoral regions, they will lose the 2016 elections…” he stated.