Kufuor Inspired By Results Of Bye-Election

President John Agyekum Kufuor has been inspired by the achievements of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in recent bye-elections to work harder with more confidence to deliver on the trust and mandate reposed
in him by Ghanaians.

Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman, said "this would not make him complacent in achieving the goals he has set for himself and the government".

Mr Agyepong briefing the Presidential Press Corps at the Castle, Osu, on Monday, said the results were clear indications of the confidence Ghanaians had in the leadership of President Kufuor to bring the socio-economic development of the country to the desired level appreciated by all.

"All of us should, therefore, assist him in his efforts as good corporate citizens rather than make attempts to run down government policies and programmes," he said.

He denied accusations that the government was determined to create a one-party state saying there were many registered political parties available to contest the bye-elections as well as the general election.

Mr Agyepong said there was no basis for the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to accuse the government of misusing its incumbency to win the bye-elections.

He called on the NDC strategists to take a hard look of the results from both previous and current elections to analyse "why their votes had dwindled and those of the NPP had increased and not blame anyone". Giving statistics, Mr Agyepong said in the Bimbilla bye-elections, NPP's votes increased by about 30 per cent while those of NDC slumped by about 50 per cent.

In the Kumawu bye-election, the NPP maintained its votes with a slight increase and those of NDC went down by 50 per cent.

In Wulensi, the NPP's votes increased by about 12 per cent while those of the NDC reduced by about 10 per cent and in Navrongo Central, the NPP's votes increased by about 17 per cent and those of NDC reduced by about 16 per cent.

In the Gomoa East, the NPP's votes increased by about 20 per cent while the NDC's votes reduced by about 14 per cent.

Mr Agyepong said it was not a deliberate ploy by the government for the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama to undertake official visits to areas of impending bye-elections to stifle other political parties from campaigning for votes, adding: "We believe in a free and fair competitive elections".

In an answer to a question on the low turnout at the bye-elections, Mr Agyepong said it was not low but rather confirmed the view held by the NPP in the past that the voters' register was bloated and should be reviewed.

Mr Agyepong said the suggestion from some NDC activists to the party to boycott the impending Amenfi West bye-elections was uncalled for since all the previous elections had been conducted in a free and fair manner.