NPP supporters sure of victory in 2012

A Number of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters have expressed optimism about the chances of the party winning political power in 2012.
They said the party had enough time to strategise effectively in order to defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2012 with a wide margin.
They said, considering the difference of votes between the two parties in the just-ended 2008 election, NPP stood a better of chance winning the 2012 Election.
Whilst some blamed the hierarchy of the party for its loss in the general election on December 7, 2008 and the run-off on December 28, 2008, others were of the view that the probability of the party returning to power was higher.
This, they explained, was because it would be difficult for the NDC to surpass the eight years achievement of the NPP, let alone fulfil the promises made by President John Evans Atta Mills to Ghanaians during the 2008 Election.
Mr Jonathan Apraku, a mechanic at Kokompe, said he was fully aware that it would not be easy for the NPP to come back to power, but with hard work and determination, it would win back political power in 2012.
He urged leaders of the party to reach out to the youth and listen to their concerns, recalling that in the 2008 elections, the leaders did not listen to them.
He said the leadership of the party took things for granted, believing that winning the 2008 Election was a foregone conclusion, no matter what happened, hence they refused to address some of the concerns they raised.
Another supporter, Kwesi Asiedu, said he believed the leaders of the party would certainly strategise well to ensure a comeback in 2012, noting that, considering the policies and achievements of the NPP administration, he was sure the NDC would underperform, and that would lead to their exit.
Three traders, all supporters of the NPP — Akosua Ankomah, Gifty Boamah and Hajia Tabasiru —who were engaged in a heated argument about their party's chances of returning to power, said they were sure of a “onetouch” victory for the party come 2012.
They said if the NDC ensured fairness in 2012 as the NPP had done, then victory would be theirs, and pointed to the fact that President Mills was not a man of his own, with regard to recent attack on his authority and credibility by the former President Jerry John Rawlings.
“President Mills can not perform under the watchful eyes of the former President Rawlings, and we believe that that will make Ghanaians vote him out come next four years,” they said.
Dominic Asare, another supporter, said the NPP had learnt its lessons and would not repeat its mistakes again.
He said the leaders of the party refused to campaign in so many places, thinking it was not necessary, noting that if the party had even campaigned at Tain after the run-off, the Electoral Commission would have had a hard time deciding who the winner was, based on the closeness of the percentage difference.
“For me, I think victory will be ours come 2012, but for now, we are watching whether Prof. Mills will deliver on his promises, which I believe are unachievable,” he added.