NPP Eyes Floating Voters……….Osafo-Maafo

The political terrain of our country is highly intense behind the scenes. As the NPP strategizes to retain power with a convincing victory in the 2008 general elections, the NDC reassesses its performance in the ‘04 election with the aim of recompensing its arsenals to snatch power from the ruling NPP. It is going to be a long political battle but in the end the winner will take it all whiles the loser will stand aloof. Realistically, the NPP has a strategic advantage over the NDC for bringing the economy back on track to a resilient level (with Osafo-Maafo as the architect behind it), embarking upon numerous developmental projects, promoting the freedom of the people, the press and many other achievements. At the same time, the retargeting block of strategy implementations of the NDC will depend upon who emerges as the flagbearer of the NPP. As the selection of some of the aspirants will send shockwaves through the NDC’s stalwarts, there are others whose election will give a form of disguised solace to the NDCs. It is a fact that the NPP will brazenly deploy all its arsenals for a political showdown. However, the propensity of the NPP’s relative comfort will depend upon the selection of an NPP flagbearer who has the ability to court floating voters. This explains the reasons why the NPP is skeptical about polarizing candidates winning the nod. The NPP is also uncomfortable with a candidate without solid political experience and track record winning the nod by chance due to the influx of as many as 17 presidential aspirants. Various messages have been relayed by some of the eminent members of the party regarding the same point I am reverberating over here. Examples could be cited from Mr. J H Mensah’s declaration of standard of measurement for the presidential aspirants. Words such as “some of the aspirants need to re-examine themselves” demonstrates the concerns of the party elders. As the NPP streaks to court the floating voters, names such as Osafo-Maafo keeps showcasing as the man who is equipped to win the heart and soul of the floating voters. Mention has also been made of Osafo-Maafo’s track record on the economy. This seems to be one of the reasons why Hon.Osafo-Maafo was on top of the polls conducted among the prospective delegates by the chronicle until the emergence of the flawed polls purported to have been conducted by the BNI. Even though, the BNI has vehemently denied conducting any polls of such kind. Well, without mincing words, we would dive into the significance of floating voters in the 08 elections and how Osafo-Maafo endears to the floating voters of Ghana.

FLOATING VOTERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN ELECTION ‘08

Floating voters are significant voters who do not pay allegiance to any political party. Thus floating voters vote across party lines. The importance of floating voters has brought about the emergence of numerous names such as “the undecided voters” “independent voters” “swing voters” etc. They are neutral in terms of their political affiliations. However, their decision making can always swing the outcome of an election one way or the other. As we consider the NDCs performance (44% of the general vote) in the 2004 general elections even in the face of the enormous popularity of President Kufour as of that time, there is every indication that election 2008 would be decided by floating voters. That explains the early embarkment of the NPP upon courting the swing voters. However, the irony of the situation is that the NDC is secretly making some inroads in courting some of the floating voters and at the same time correcting most of the mistakes of the 2004 elections. We need to sincerely realize that Prof. Mills has maintained 44% in the last two general elections so the 44% seems to be his die-hard base and for that matter he needs additional 7% to make up 51% and carry the day! So it is not a mere coincidence as we see Prof. Mills and his foot soldiers trooping into central region day in and day out. Importantly, the NPP’s courtship with the swing voters could be sustained with appealing candidates of the likes of Osafo-Maafo. He has been an achiever in his early career as a renowned economic, accounting and management consultant. He has also demonstrated his ability to manage an enterprise successfully as this was exhibited at the NIB, BHC, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, youth&sports etc. Osafo-Maafo’s solid political achievement in the area of the economy is something that Ghana and the NPP delegates need now. Secondly, Osafo-Maafo’s positive demeanor as a firm gentleman who is not polarizing will diffuse Prof. Mill’s “asomdwee hene factor”. A debate between Prof. Mills and Hon. Osafo-Maafo could be dubbed “the battle of the geniuses”. It would be devoid of insults and rhetoric. Let’s explicitly look into the bright chances of the NPP with Osafo-Maafo as the flagbearer of the NPP.

THE BRIGHT CHANCES OF THE NPP IN THE 2008

The NPP was built on a solid Danquah-Busia tradition. The founding members formed the party with a sense of collective responsibility with the belief that as a Patriotic Party, the actions or inactions of one member or several of its members can affect the party in its entirety. The Danquah–busia tradition is based on true democracy, the protection of human rights that are entrenched in the constitution and the respect for the rule of law. These virtues were explicitly exhibited by the NPP in their brilliance form. That led to the party’s victory in 2000.These inalienable virtues are always demonstrated by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).It is also important to note that Hon. Osafo-Maafo is a founding member of the NPP who lost his Managerial Job for contributing to the growth and development of the NPP in the 1990s. His farm was also set ablaze for being a founding member of the NPP. It all happened in his quest to fight against injustice. With the advent of the coming into power of the NPP, Ghanaians can now express their opinion without fear of victimization. That is reminiscent of the party’s motto which says “development in freedom” The freedom of the press has also been entrenched. Importantly, with the able leadership of Hon.Osafo-Maafo in the Finance Ministry, the NPP was able resuscitate one of the worst economies in the world and made it more resilient against external shocks. With the most prudent economic policies he enacted and put in place, Ghana has successfully been able to implement the redenomination of our currency without any major setback. This is a man who promised Ghanaians of leading them to a successful completion point of the HIPIC Programme and true to his words, he led Ghana to a completion point within two and half years as opposed to the other African countries who took 4 years to reach a completion point. We are all witnesses to the enormous benefits such a brilliance performance on the part of Osafo-Maafo has brought to Ghana. Some of the benefits are the cancellation of Ghana’s debt to the Paris Club, Ghana’s qualification for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). No wonder Ghana and for that matter the floating voters nicknamed him “oseadeaye (meaning a person who delivers on his promises) as well as oyeadeayie (meaning a mender) Honourable Osafo-Maafo in his appearance before the vetting committee of Parliament, made a monumental promise of leading Ghana to the FIFA World Cup Tournament for the first time since independence and to the surprise of all, he did it for the first time in the history of our country. Ghana needs someone who has done it before and is ready to do it again.Osafo-Maafo is someone who has visionary skills and thinks outside the box in line with today’s globalization which is very important for Ghana’s economic growth and economic development. With Honourable Osafo-Maafo as the flagbearer of the NPP, the future of Ghana and the NPP as a whole is bright. Importantly, Ghana’s credit rating has gone up to a level where Ghana needs no third tiers in accessing external loans. The NPP will therefore capitalize on its comparative advantage over the NDC, by campaigning on the splendid performance of the government in the areas enumerated above. It is very significant that the NPP and the delegates have realized that the flagbearer should be someone who will appeal to the floating voters for the ultimate victory of the NPP.If Ghanaians are calling for a visionary leader who can effect accelerated economic growth and development, transform the economy into the pockets of the ordinary people and deliver on his promises, then they are indirectly calling for Hon. Yaw Osafo-Maafo who has done it before for Ghana and is ready to do it again. It is our optimism that the NPP delegates will listen to the call of the floating voters, suffering Ghanaians and give the nod to Hon.Osafo-Maafo; the proven performer who has the solid experience and the monumental track record for always delivering on his promises. Importantly, Osafo-Maafo’s commanding respect with the international community as a consultant to the World Bank and one of the best Finance Ministers of our time, endears him to floating voters as the man who can move Ghana to the next enviable stage and that is a middle income status. His ability to woo investors into our country for a high level capital investment is something that we can all trust him for. If the World Bank can trust Osafo-Maafo for Liberia’s economic restructuring then the NPP delegates can always trust him with the economy of Ghana.

THE HOPE FOR GHANA WITH A VISIONARY LEADER.

Fellow Ghanaians, Ghana’s economy is ready for economic take off. Foreign investors’ confidence is Ghana’s economy is very promising. Visionary leaders, who have demonstrated the qualities of a visionary leader in their performance as public servants, will be able to transform the economy into the pockets of the ordinary Ghanaians. Bridge the conspicuous income inequality and make the ordinary Ghanaian better-off. Rapidly growing economies such as South Korea and Malaysia were agro-based economies just as Ghana. However, they moved from agro-based industry to light industries and finally progressed to capital intensive economy. There should be a visionary leader who will make the move and create path where path is difficult to come by. The Honourable Osafo –Maafo has demonstrated these visionary characteristics through out his political career. Significantly, in a period when Ghana’s economy was at the verge of collapsing, he seized the moment and brought investors confidence back into the economy. He brought Ghana’s hope back into soccer by championing Ghana’s course to the world cup tournament. That was monumental as well as historic.

CONCLUSION

Ghana’s quest for economic renaissance is enormous. However, the realization of Ghana’s aspiration would be possible if a visionary leader is steering the helm of affairs of our dear country. As we gear up to the delegates’ conference for the election of the NPP flagbearership, let us all advocate for a sustainable economic development which takes into consideration the needs of the future generation. That is how we can build a better Ghana for ourselves and the future generation! Ghana’s economy will always be safe with Osafo-Maafo as the flagbearer of the NPP and ultimately the president of Ghana.

Written by: Francis Opoku Asante

The writer is a Medical Insurance Specialist (UAT/Clinical Operations), Bed.POPLE, Currently pursuing Masters of Science in Accountancy (MSA), Former SRC President (University of Cape Coast)