NPP support falling - NCCE

Accra, Aug. 18, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Monday revealed that the electorate's support for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) was on the decline as compared to the rating in Election 2004, which the party won.

The hike in oil prices, astronomic increases in the cost of foodstuffs, the general economic hardship and yearning for a change of government are attributed to the low rating for the ruling party, a nationwide survey by the NCCE has revealed.

The survey's statistics indicated that out of sample size of 5,520 respondents, 2,360 representing 42.9 per cent rooted for the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to win the December general elections.

The ruling NPP was rated second with 2,341 respondents, representing 42.6 per cent. The rejuvenated Convention People's Party (CPP) picked the third spot with 345 respondents representing 6.3 per cent and the People's National Convention (PNC) was rated fourth with only 60 respondent representing 1.1 per cent.

The survey conducted in all the 230 constituencies in April this year indicated that there were 936 respondents from Ashanti Region, NPP's stronghold, followed by the Eastern Region with 676 respondents; Greater Accra, 648 respondents and the Northern Region with 624 respondents.

Other regional statistics were Brong Ahafo, 576 respondents; Western, 528 respondents; Volta, 504 respondents; Central, 456 respondents; Upper East, 312 respondents and Upper West, 240 respondents.

Ms Gertrude Zakaria-Ali, NCCE Director of Research, who presented the report at a day's review meeting, explained that 351, representing 6.4 per cent, were unwilling to indicate their political preference. The survey sought to provide political parties with issues that voters would like them to address, offer policymakers and civil society groups critical areas that the electorate wanted them to address concerning issues raised.

On voters' participation in the forthcoming general elections, the survey, according to Ms Zakaria-Ali, found a whopping majority of 5,327 (96.7 per cent) out of the 5,520 respondents indicating their willingness to vote. Only 154 respondents representing 2.8 per cent said no, whereas 15 representing 0.3 per cent failed to indicate their participation in the election.

The regional statistics on participation in Election 2008 indicate that the Northern Region topped the list with 99 per cent of respondents willing to vote whilst the Greater Accra Region had the least number of respondents 95.1 per cent who are willing to vote.

Ms Zakaria-Ali said most respondents were unwilling to vote in Greater Accra because of the failure of politicians to find solutions to the negative effects of urbanization, high rate of unemployment, lack of social amenities and high crime rate.

The review meeting was jointly chaired by Mrs Augustina Akosuah Akumanyi, NCCE Deputy Chairperson, in-charge of programmes and Mr Baron Amoafo, Deputy Chairman in-charge of finance and administration. It was attended by representatives of some political parties, civil society activists and media practitioners. 18 Aug. 08