It appears the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is invigorated in its quest to make giant in-roads into the Ashanti region which has been a traditional stronghold of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The party has revised its target of ten constituency seats to thirteen with its 1 million votes agenda for the presidential elections scaled to a 1.5 million vote for President John Dramani Mahama.
The ruling NDC currently has four parliamentary seats, namely: Ahafo Ano North, Sekyere Afram Plains, Asawase and New Edubiase with the opposition NPP still holding on to a majority of 43 parliamentary seats.
Speaking to Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, the National communications Director of the NDC, Solomon Nkansah indicated that the party has gathered enough intelligence through its intelligence, that the people of the Ashanti region are appreciative of what he described as massive developmental projects the NDC administration has implemented across the region.
“We are targeting thirteen seats but the battle grounds are in 24 constituencies because more than half of the region is unsafe for both parties. We are not getting those seats because we are NDC but we are getting those seats because we are advancing care towards them. We are showing them commitment and we are doing what they expect of a government, “a very confident Nkansah exuded.
He indicated that the NPP had taken the Ashanti region for granted because of its safe seats and huge following in the region; a phenomenon he believes the NDC had reversed by “reasoning with them and doing what they want.”
He added that the vigilance of the security services coupled with the determination of the traditional authorities to peace had further boosted the confidence of the party to venture into communities hitherto considered a no go area for NDC campaign activities.
The NDC in 2012 set for itself a target to add four more constituencies to its three parliamentary seats in the Ashanti region.
The four targeted seats, were Ahafo Ano North, Offinso North, Adansi Asokwa and the Akrofrom constituencies,
However after polls, it only managed to clutch a seat increasing its number of parliamentary seats in the region to four.
The party is however readying itself to outdoor its plans and strategies for the Ashanti region as it launches its Ashanti Regional campaign this Saturday April 15.