WHO WINS 2016 ELECTIONS?

Facts on the ground suggest very strongly that not much can be taken for granted in the 2016 elections and that those who think that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has already lost the elections may be in for a very rude shock.

 Last Thursday I followed the president’s campaign in Accra and was completely stunned by the level of confidence of NDC Supporters who appear to fear no foe.

 Johnson Aseidu Nketia, General Secretary of the Party speaks for the broad membership when he claims that the NDC will win the election “hands down”.

 For a ruling party which has had traumatic experiences  including the power crisis and an appreciable fall in the value of the cedi last year, it is a marvel that it continues to draw spontaneous support everywhere.

Leaders of the party claim that significance of president Mahama development interventions account for the popularity of President Mahama and the NDC.

They claim that access to portable water has improved from 58 percent to 76 percent and at least 123 new Senior High Schools have been built in addition to new public universities and significant improvements in access to training colleges.

The health sector has also seen significant improvements.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is equally confident of victory and it claims that the hardship facing the broad masses will compel them to vote for change.

The NPP also claims that the corruption is on the rise and that Government has not done enough to create employment for young people.

What is interesting is that the message of the NPP has been the same for the last two elections it lost.

The Ivor Greenstreet-led Convention Peoples Party (CPP) is also claiming that it will win the up-coming elections.

It’s claim is based on the assumption that both the NPP and the NDC have failed to deliver on their promises.

The CPP promises to bring something new to the political contest this year.

 In all the 2016 elections promises to be interesting and it would appear that the NDC has a slight urge over the others.

Editorial

BLOCKADE

The Cuban Embassy in Accra has made a passionate appeal for the lifting of US blockade on the Island State which is causing considerable hardship to its people.

This blockade has seriously affected Cuba’s ability to carry out international trade and has denied its people access to even vital medicines.

It is strange that at a time when the US is busily trumpeting its readiness to normalize relations with Cuba, the blockade is still being maintained.

As President John Dramani Mahama said in his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations, this blockade is unjustified and inhuman.

The Insight calls for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the blockade.