Former National chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu, has called on the leadership of the party not to underestimate the intelligence of voters.

According to him, voters have the power to influence the outcome of an election, as was seen in the Assin North by-election held yesterday, June 27, 2023. Owing to this, he expressed the need for the party to reconsider its messaging and actions in subsequent elections.

Mr Manu revealed that in the development of a constituency via the grading of roads in the build up to elections, political parties must not be “insulting the voters as well because they want development”.

“I think that we should not take the voters for granted. We should never underestimate the intelligence of the voter. Let the voter decide and that is what they have decided. But as government you owe it a duty to develop your country…”
Peter Mac Manu

Despite his agreement with parties respecting the judgement of voters, Mr Manu stated that the development of roads and schools as witnessed in the Assin North constituency “does not take one month” to construct. As such, he noted that if these projects have not been indicated earlier on, it would not have been possible for some of them to be inaugurated.

“So, some of them have been on the drawing board for far too long… For other jurisdiction, may be there are laws that puts timelines on when projects could be inaugurated like in Senegal. But the government has its duty to bring development anytime, anywhere, when resources are available; and don’t take the voters for granted.”
Peter Mac Manu

NPP urged to assess loss of by-election in Assin North

Commenting on what informed the loss of the party in the Assin North by-election, the former national chairman of the NPP stated that the party’s assessment in profiling the constituency needs to be reconsidered. He explained that Assin North is a rural constituency made up of farmers, as such, the party needs to necessarily couch a different message for those areas.

“… So, [we must be thinking] their level of production, occupation that our message did not send across properly. We need to interrogate that and we are going to do that. What has been the general infrastructure? Mind you, Assin North is a new district that was created recently… What kind of infrastructure has government been able to put out there [in terms of] high schools, roads, hospitals etc. All these things are what voters will look at and will be emotionally satisfied before they cast their vote and it will be our duty to also protect the vote that they cast for us.”
Peter Mac Manu

Furthermore, Mr Manu emphasized that the NPP must try to consolidate its gains and protect votes, as well as send a strong message that will touch the heart of voters in the NDC’s stronghold in the next election. He noted that this will enable the NPP to at least win or break even.

In spite of the party’s loss, Mr Manu stated that the election was relatively peaceful. He indicated that although there were quite a few acts of violence, on the whole, the security and the Electoral Commission all performed their duties responsibly.

“Peace in an election is a must… An election must happen in a peaceful atmosphere. Obviously, we don’t want to win an election in a violent atmosphere…”
Peter Mac Manu

Subsequently, Mr Manu congratulated the NDC and the MP-elect for the Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson for their victory. He further congratulated all the “voters, electorates and citizenry in Assin North for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves”.