Who Says NDC Is Broke?

For months, the opposition National Democratic Congress has told the whole world that it is not as financially sound as its other competitors. However, events days before, during and after last Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections have given the lie to this assertion. Using a combination of lies, half truths, and money, the party, according to checks, induced gullible voters to buy into its message of Change. Conservative estimates put the final figure of NDC spending on election day at GH¢5 million.

The allegations abound. The party which claimed to be cash strapped managed to organise enough funds to offer GH¢200 each to all NPP polling agents in the Ashanti region to help fiddle with the figures of the final ballot or at worst look away whilst it is being done, this paper is reliably informed by several agents who were approached.

In the coastal areas, NDC agents reportedly bought barrels of pre-mix fuel and distributed them to fishermen on the eve of the elections with a promise to do more if elected into government.

Yesterday in Ablekuma North and South constituencies of the Greater Accra region, party agents were sighted distributing GH¢5 as Thank You gifts to the electorate in the area for voting NDC.

Similar gifts were being distributed in several regions, especially in NPP strongholds. The ‘largesse’ does not end there. In parts of the Central region, kerosene, soap and clothes were still being distributed as at press time. Indeed, the wife of NPP MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, P C Appiah Ofori, was a beneficiary of this ‘donkomi.’

The opposition party has also stepped up its disinformation efforts. From the jailing of Tsatsu Tsikata by a court of competent jurisdiction, through alleged corrupt deals by government officials to attempts by the Electoral Commission and the government to rig the elections, NDC agents have fanned out across the country and are busily convincing the electorate they need a change – without defining the change they offer.

No issue is too small to be politicised. Queues in banking halls, inconvenience caused by the construction of roads – all have received special mention and been added to a list of alleged NPP failures.

But, the Ghanaian voter has grown more sophisticated, and votes based on issues. A pertinent question though is: where did all this flood of money on the eve of elections come from?