The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), over the weekend, drew uncontrolled laughter onto the faces of residents in Western Region, by announcing a target of winning 90 per cent of parliamentary seats in the region in the December 7 general elections.
According to Sipa Yankey, Chairman of a caucus made up of former NDC government functionaries, this target has been set for all the party’s regional branches in the country.
He therefore challenged Western Region to meet it’s target by snatching 15 out of the 17 parliamentary seats in the region.
Unachievable target
The NDC currently has only three out of the 17 seats in the region.
Speaking at the launch of a 30-member regional campaign team for his party, Dr Yankey said the target is achievable, and urged members of the team to work harder for 12 more seats.
Some bemused residents who heard the news could not help themselves laughing, wondering whether the NDC has a magic wand or charm to achieve this target.
They also questioned whether the NPP would be sleeping to allow its opponent have its own way in the election.
While some of the residents dismissed NDC’s targets as funny, others see it as unrealistic and impossible.
Nana Kojo Toku II, the party’s Western regional chairman, seems to share similar sentiment.
In a local radio interview on Monday morning, Nana Toku said he has his own targeted number of seats to snatch from the NPP and would pull a surprise, come December 7.
Although he declined to disclose that target, there are speculations that the party has eyes on the Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Shama and Esikado-Ketan seats.
NPP’s target
The governing NPP, however, insists that neither the chairman’s agenda nor the 90 per cent target will be a reality, and even speak of plans to snatch two more seats from the NDC.
Beautiful Dede, a member of the party’s regional communication team, told the Daily Statesman that with hard work and effective lobbying skills by the sitting MPs, all constituencies in the region have seen tremendous development.
In the Evalue-Gwira-Ajomoro constituency, for instance, she said, the constituents can now, among others, boast of a modern sea defence wall, sports stadium and a fishing harbour, which had been denied them throughout the eight-year Mahama rule.
Ms Dede said the electorate in Western Region and, for that matter, those in other parts of the country are discerning and will never jeopardize their future by replacing NPP with NDC.
Source: Daily Statesman
