Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
It is now officially established that over 61,836 card-bearing
members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) voted against President John
Dramani Mahama’s bid to lead the party for the 2016 general election.
Certified results released by the Electoral Commission (EC) showed
that even though the president managed an overwhelming 1,199,118 representing 95.1
percent, the 61,836 ‘No’ ballots representing 4.9 percent of total votes cast was
embarrassing, according to some critics.
As Ghana heads to November 7, 2016 for another general election, some
political parties have been busily selecting their presidential and parliamentary
candidates; and the ruling NDC has not been left out.
‘Yes’ Or ‘No’
The presidential ballot was a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ decision by voters for
President Mahama who was contesting unopposed.
However, there were embarrassing moments for the ruling party as a
number of their own supporters voted ‘No’ against Mr. Mahama, coupled with many
ballots marked ‘Spoilt.’
According to the EC, the total valid votes in the presidential poll was
1,260,954 and total rejected ballots were 25,774, representing 2 percent of
total votes cast.
The highest ‘No’ votes of 10,190 against
Mr Mahama came from his home Northern Region, followed by the Volta, Region - 7,811;
Central - 7,548; Upper West - 6,504 and Upper East 6,085.
The Eastern Region, where the NDC has been drumming home an agenda
of sharing next year’s total votes at the national elections equally (50/50) with
the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), recorded 5,103 ‘No’ votes.
The results declared covered 265 out of 275 constituencies according
to the EC.
‘No’ Vote
Propaganda
Before the elections held last Saturday, many of the party’s leading
members had warned that they would deal with any member who would vote against
the president, but the directive appeared not to have resonated among the rank
and file.
Some of the party’s leading members have been trying to downplay the
‘No’ votes by claiming that those votes against Mr. Mahama were from some
people faithful to the opposition NPP who had ‘infiltrated’ their party while
others claimed they were from ‘illiterate’ voters.
Mahama’s Advice
President Mahama, at a short declaration ceremony at the party’s
headquarters in Adabraka, Accra, said, “I ask for all divisions to be put aside
ahead of the 2016 elections. I intend to hold a family meeting before the end
of the year to ensure unity before the 2016 elections.
"All those who voted ‘No’ indicate that the NDC tolerates
dissent in the party."
But the President had earlier begged the party’s rank and file to
give him a 100 percent endorsement.
Interesting
Revelation
Interestingly, in all constituencies where NDC parliamentary
candidates went unopposed, there was no voting on such candidates.
Sources said there was no parliamentary ballot to acclaim the
candidates because the ruling party was said to be afraid that some of the
members could vote against such candidates and embarrass the party.
Appoh’s Cash
Rachael Nana Ajoa Appoh, incumbent MP for Gomoa Central who was
selected again to contest on the ticket of the party, revealed on radio that
she personally had to pay cash to some voters to persuade them from voting
against the president.
The former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social
Protection, said had it not been through ‘her tireless effort,’ the dissenting
votes of ‘No’ against President Mahama would have been increased in her
constituency.
“I worked tirelessly before managing to reduce the ‘No votes against
the president. The people wanted to vote against President Mahama because they
felt they had been denied the LEAP initiative by the Gender and Social
Protection Ministry. If you look at the District LEAP initiative poverty ranking,
we are second and so my people do not understand why they should be denied that
initiative,” she explained.
Nana Ajoa Appoh added, “I have to spend for the ‘No’ vote against
the president to get reduced to 350. Even with this figure, I cried, begged and
paid some money to some people before I was able to achieve that.”
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