2020 Polls: Will It Be A Contest Of Legacies, Sweet Promises Or Propaganda?

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December 7 2020 would be an interesting yet historic day in the books of Ghana election as a former president would contest an incumbent president.

Though there are about 17 political parties in Ghana, many have predicted a tough competition between the ruling government, New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress, NDC.

Interestingly, both parties are presenting candidates who have been president before and would weigh between themselves who has performed better than the other. Some school of thoughts are comparing achievements of parties while others are comparing the performances of personalities involved.

The largest opposition party, NDC is represented by former president John Dramani Mahama while the ruling party, NPP is represented by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

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Who has performed better, NDC or NPP? Who has performed better, former president Mahama or President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo? Would the contest be judged by legacies, sweet promises or vague propaganda? Former president Mahama and flag-bearer of NDC thinks he is best same way H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo believes he is also the best but the onus lies in the thumb of the the good people of Ghana.

Both candidates have amassed a lot of wealth, fame and are strategically placed to as favourites than any other candidate already known in the race or yet to be named.

Rise To The Top

Former president Mahama is a communication expert, historian, and writer. He was a Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi from 1997 to 2009 and Minister of Communications from 1998 to 2001. He became the vice president in 2009 and after the demise of the late president John Evans Atta Mills in July 2012, Mahama ascended to the presidency. He was elected president later in December 2012 and served as president until 2017 when he lost power to NPP. He became the Ghana’s first president to have served at all levels of political office (Ghanaian and Pan-African MP, Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice-President and President)

President Akufo-Addo is a lawyer, politician and historian who was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1996 for Abuakwa constituency in the eastern region. He was re-elected in 2000 and as a member of parliament in the then incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP), Akufo-Addo was made a Cabinet Minister from 2001 to 2007, first as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and then later as Foreign Minister. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo became President of Ghana in January 2017, defeating his opponent in the first round, the first time a candidate has won an outright majority in the first round of a Ghanaian presidential election after losing two consecutive trials.

Achievements

Under the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama – led NDC administration, Circle Dubai, community day schools were among the lots on the lips of the able citizens. He compiled his achievements in the ‘NDC Green book’. He chalked a lot of achievements which a few is listed below;

Statistics at the end of 2015 showed that in excess of 76 per cent of both rural and urban residents have access to potable water. The Teshie desalination plant, the Kpong water expansion project and the ATMA project have expanded access to urban water supply in the capital, Accra. The Wa water supply project, the 3Ks project, covering Kumawu, Konongo and Kwahu, are all projects that guaranteed sustainable water supply to Ghanaians.

He commenced and completed the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, fast-tracked the construction and the Kasoa overhead bridge, completed the Airport Hills/Burma Camp network of roads, as well as the 37-El Wak-Trade Fair road. The Tema Motorway Roundabout decongestion project and a new bridge from Flower Pot Roundabout on the Spintex Road over the Accra-Tema Motorway to East Legon were underway under his tenure.

On the other hand, campaign promises by president Akufo-Addo led NPP government are on gradually being fulfilled. Free SHS, One District One Factory, One Village One Dam, Planting for Food and Jobs, planting for food and jobs, Ensuring stable power supply.