NPP Trails NDC By 3 Percent in Polls

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which has been on the campaign trail for the past 20 months is in the lead of a newly released polls, ahead of its closest rival the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) with 44.6 percent, having a marginal lead, and with the NPP yet to select its vice Presidential candidate, pulling a close 44.3 percent.

Ms. Ewurasi Jeffrey, a field worker and Researcher with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), who spoke to Joy FM yesterday evening, explained that she used a slightly complex methodology and sampling size, which considered all the relevant areas including the North, South and middle belt of Ghana in her work.

She also boldly defended her choice of subject, and justified the use of taxpayer's money, which she said was part of the cost of deepening democracy which is an essential aspect of the mandate of the NCCE. Her interviewer had queried her about why she would not spend time and resources on educating people about the need for peace instead of the violence that had attended the ongoing registration exercise.

The Convention People's Party (CPP) placed third in the polls with a vastly improved 6 percent, enough to cause alarm to the two leading parties. Its Publicity Chief, Mr. Kosi Kedem heaved a sigh of relief and acknowledged that the CPP is demonstrating that it is a growing party, adding that it is encouraging that an independent pollster has done what financial challenges have prevented them from doing.

The People's National Convention (PNC) polled a single digit, which was described as 'a big disappointment' by the party, with their spokesman comparing it to their performance four years ago.

But the NCCE survey was done four months ago, and the figures may change with the passage of time, nevertheless the two major parties greeted the figures with skepticisms.

The NDC's National Organiser, Ofosu Ampofo said that their own research shows that they would certainly breast the tape with a convincing straight victory, optimistically indicating that the NPP's one touch victory should be theirs, because they stand to win the race without a run off.

The Campaign Director of the Campaign Team of Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr. Kwabena Arthur-Kennedy on his part said, NPP was not sure whether the survey was accurate, since their own study had proved that 27% of the electorate were still undecided.

He continued that this current survey conducted by the NCCE stated that 96% of electorate had decided, as a result the verdict of the survey came as a surprise.

He was optimistic that NPP would definitely beat NDC, adding that "The NDC has had a Presidential candidate for almost two years and they have had the chance to do a lot of campaign, while the NPP was still going through its primaries, yet we have managed to close in. This means we are coming from behind to overtake them and move into the lead."

Regarding Health care and Education, Dr. Arthur-Kennedy said the Ghanaian public have given the NPP thumps up for the achievements chalked in that sector, and maintained that the NDC's Presidential candidate was on record to have stated that Healthcare and Education can never be free, however, NPP has been successful in making the two free.

He admitted that the NPP appreciated the internal mechanism of the polls and that they would work on it and beat the NDC in the elections to maintain their majority in parliament.

Touching on surveys that have promised that there would be runoff in the elections, he indicated that their own polls revealed to them that because of the primaries which was late in commencing, they fell behind in December, but now are ahead and that if they work harder there would not be any second round.

The National Organiser of the NDC described the results as good news and that the information would encourage the party to work harder. "This one is not our survey, it is the survey of NCCE," he remarked.

Regarding education, Mr. Ampofo said it has not been well for the NPP, because the SSCE and BECE results have revealed the poor performance of students which gives the indication that standard of education had fallen.

"At the end of the day, it is the output of Education which indicates the successes or otherwise," he reiterated. Mr. Ampofo observed the remarkable output when the NDC running mate toured the Northern regions.

In response, Dr. Arthur-Kennedy regretted that Ofosu Ampofo did not acknowledge Prof. Mills but rather his running mate.

The Editor of the Daily Dispatch, who has carved a niche for organizing polls repeated his position that there would be a round-off.