Politics of insults caused NPP’s loss – Quarshigah

The Member of Parliament (MP) elect for the Keta South Constituency in the Volta Region, Richard Quarshigah has pointed out that the defeat of the New Patriotic Party in the 2012 elections could be attributed to the impression that they were a less peaceful party as compared to the NDC.

According to him, Ghanaians acknowledged that the personality and behaviour of a candidate seeking political office was a very important factor to consider and thus sided with the NDC.

Mr Quarshigah was responding to comments from MP elect for the Tema East Constituency, Titus Glover on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday.

Mr Titus Glover on his part however held the opinion that though the NPP had focused on the politics of issues throughout the 2012 electioneering campaign, the NDC only made it a point to “focus on the personality of Akufo-Addo, attack him," noting that "Richard here is one of the guys insulting Akufo-Addo, who could have been his father.”

He added that it was such actions that contributed to the increase in the politics of insult exhibited during the campaigns of the two parties.

“When you do that I cannot sit down because Akufo-Addo is also my candidate and he can be my father... I can’t sit down for Richard, Felix Kwakye, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Fiifi Kwettey, Kobby Acheampong, and Hannah Bissiw insulting Nana Addo. You will need to pay them back.”

Mr. Quarshigah however denied insulting the NPP’s Presidential candidate saying, "who says that in an election, you don’t look at the personality of the one who wants to lead? The character matters.”

He noted that the leadership of the NDC always made it a point to call members of the party to order, when their utterances were considered out of order.