Investigations by The Heritage have revealed clear indications that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is gradually losing its grip on the electorate to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), barely six months to the December election.
According to the investigations, unlike during the 2004 election and also 2000 when the NPP, though in opposition had its paraphernalia scattered all over the country especially in most regional and district capitals, the situation at the moment is different.
One group of people who openly declared their unflinching support for the then opposition party was commercial drivers. Then it was as though every taxi or tro-tro driver in the country supported the NPP as they openly draped the vehicles with NPP flags and banners displayed in their vehicles. Now that has changed. With six months to the December polls, the pomp and pageantry by these commercial drivers which characterized previous elections as totally absent.
A visit by The Heritage to most lorry parks in the capital city here in Accra over the past few weeks gives the indications that the ruling government’s popularity is dwindling by the day.
At the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, there was no single NPP paraphernalia on display in any of the vehicles either parked or in motion. In an interview, most of the drivers said that the cost of living in the country at the moment was very high and therefore the need for the government to turn things around or would be voted out, come December.
One major concern expressed by the Kwame Nkrumah circle drivers was the fact that the Police MTTU officials were disturbing and extorting huge sums of money from them for reasons only known to the Police.
Stephen Mensah, with over 30 years driving experience told this reporter that they were indeed very furious with the way and manner officials have been taking money from them since the NPP administration took over power. “What has worsened the case is the establishment of the special court to deal with traffic offences. When one is taken to the court the judge will not allow you to present your case but only slap you with heavy fines.
If your are not able to pay you will be sent to jail for a term not less than 6 months,” Wisdom Mensah, a taxi driver lamented. Meanwhile, with what this paper witnessed over the weekend when the NDC flag bearer Prof. Mills took what party officials called “stop to shop” to the garden city is anything to go by, then the NDC is poised for action. A member of the campaign team told The Heritage that the manifestation of a victory for the NDC was what happened in Kumasi. According to him, the Prof. was mobbed by both party faithfully and sympathizers in a hitherto no go area for them. “There is no way the NDC is not going to win this year’s election,” the campaign member told The Heritage.
