Abu Sakara: small opposition parties lose out

The 2012 Presidential candidate for the Convention People's Party, Dr. Abu Sakara, has attributed the poor performance of his party in the last polls to the determination of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress to win the elections at all cost.

Dr. Sakara, who said none among the two parties will be able to give the Ghanaian the transformation needed for augmented development, told Kwabena Anokye Adisi more commonly known as Bola Ray, on the Starr Chat show on Starr 103.5FM, Wednesday that, he failed to gather at least 1% vote because although the party put in many mechanism to ensure a win, “the external factors were greater”.

“The circumstances during the election process would determine whether this would happen or not.

“In the 2012 elections, the two major parties decided they wanted a one touch win. So what they did was to sweep every single vote, which meant that the smaller parties were constricted,” he told Bola Ray.

Adding, “I thought that the country at that time was ready for change, however, what we have to accept is that, the NDC and the NPP have grounded a significant percentage of the electorate.”

Dr. Sakara polled 0.18% in the December 2012 general elections in Ghana, placing him sixth on the list of the eight candidates who stood.

When asked if he stood because he wanted to add up to the numbers, the astute academician said “no”.

According to him, he sees Ghana on a path of decadence and wanted to help salvage it hence his decision to run on the ticket of the CPP instead of joining either the NDC or NPP.

“I came into politics from the point of what platform can I be part of that stands the chance of transforming Ghana….”

He, however, said although he did not make as much impact as he wanted, there is a chance smaller parties can work to defeat the two major parties in future elections.

“Now you can make an impact and be a deciding factor, if you are able to poll enough votes from both of them. That is a strategy you have to craft carefully and execute in a disciplined way because other people are also trying to do the same.”