Former Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, has revealed that former President John Dramani Mahama has got some homework to do.
He indicated that for Mr Mahama to win the 2024 Presidential elections, then he must focus on gaining grounds in the Volta Region. Dr Asamoah noted that it is crucial John Mahama “puts his house in order to give him the strength to be able to win easily and massively”.
Considering previous elections held in NDC strongholds in the Volta Region, the former NDC Chairman intimated that Mr Mahama was unable to gather substantial votes during the 2020 general elections as his predecessors had attained. This, he explained, was due to the failure of individuals in the region to vote for the NDC as a result of the party’s inability to focus on the development of the region.
“Volta Region is supposed to be the World Bank of the NDC. What exactly did Mahama do for the Volta Region? Remember the last election, he didn’t get the kind of votes Jerry and others were getting; the 80/90 %. They lost a seat in Hohoe. He’s got some homework to do”.
Dr Obed Yao Asamoah
Commenting on the possibility of Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, running on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as President, Dr Asamoah indicated that should Mr Mahama compete in the 2024 elections against him, the NDC may find it difficult to win. Citing the Savannah region, he revealed that NPP and NDC have “equal strength”. But he emphasized that in the case of the Northern Region, the NPP has an edge over the opposition NDC.
“Then, you have Bawumia in the East, Walewale area. He will have a considerable influence… He (Mahama) needs to make some amends to people of the Volta Region”.
Dr Obed Yao Asamoah
2020 election in the Central Region
Touching on the 2020 elections held in the Central Region, Dr Asamoah disclosed that John Mahama’s running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, was unable to make an impact in the Region. Although he did not mention the particular constituency, Dr Asamoah revealed that despite the fact that Prof Opoku-Agyemang is a native of the region, the NDC lost a seat there.
“The lady who is a running mate to Mahama lost the Central Region in the last election. Lost a whole constituency”.
Dr Obed Yao Asamoah
Dr Asamoah noted that although the NPP equally lost some seats in the Central Region during the 2020 elections, the party stands to pose a threat in the 2024 general elections should the party settle on Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, to run on the party’s ticket.
“Alan Kyerematen is a factor to consider. He could win. If he does, it poses a threat to the NDC in the Central region. Because his mother’s side is from Central Region”.
Dr Obed Yao Asamoah
Following this, the former NDC Chairman further suggested that in the collation of the Greater Accra Regional results for both parties, the dispute between government and spare parts dealers during that period worked in favour of the NDC.
“They (spare parts dealers) thought that the taxation against them was too much. A lot of them supported the NDC. We were prepared to allow Okada. That was also a significant factor against the NPP”.
Dr Obed Yao Asamoah
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