Election 2020: Will Volta Region marry NPP or stick to NDC ?
The presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have turned the Volta Region into a major battle ground for Monday’s election.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP and former President John Dramani Mahama have claimed they have the best development plan for the region, the reason why voters should vote for them.
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They have visited the region not less than four times each in the heated political campaigns and the former President is due to make another visit before voting day.
Votes
Before the Volta Region was split into two with the creation of the Oti Region, the NPP was increasing its votes each election year but it is yet to win a seat in the region.
In contrast, the NDC votes keep reducing.
Campaign Issues
During all his four visits to the region this year, President Akufo-Addo urged people from the Volta Region to change their voting pattern and give his party some Members of Parliament (MPs) to work with when he wins the elections.
He asked them to “come sit on the back of the elephant, a place you will find better life and would not like to leave.”
He said he was optimistic that his track record in terms of development projects including Hohoe town roads, Eastern corridor road, water supply systems, Naval Training Academy and the good government policies including Planting For Food and Jobs, One district, One factory, NABCO and the Free Senior High School enjoyed by the people in the region would enable the NPP to win some seats.
Mr Mahama, on the other hand, completed a four-day tour of the region in August where he reminded the people of the failed promises of the government including the One District, One Factory, One Village, One Dam and neglect of projects in the region, which were commenced during his administration.
He accused the government of abandoning projects such as the Ho Airport, abattoir and road projects and promised to complete all abandoned projects in his first year in office.
The running mate to the NDC presidential candidate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, also campaigned vigorously in the Volta Region.
Communicators
Communicators of the NDC have been campaigning that the next Mahama government will upgrade the Ohawu Agric College at Afife to a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness, build a modern fish market at Sogakope and Kpando Torkor and provide agriculture mechanisation and service centres in all districts.
He will also construct Volivo Dorfor to Adidome Bridge on the Volta Lake and complete the eastern corridor road including major roads within districts in the region and build modern waste recycling facilities for solid and liquid waste.
One other key issue that has become topical is the deployment of security personnel at the borders of the region during the voter registration exercise which saw a number of people in the region including chiefs and the opposition NDC criticise the government.
Other candidates
Aside the two frontrunners, the Convention People’s Party’s (CPP’s) Presidential Candidate, Mr Ivor Greenstreet, and his running mate, Prof. Emmanuel Bobobee, and the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP’s) Presidential Candidate, Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, have also sold their message to the region.
Seats
With the creation of the Oti Region, the Volta Region now has 18 seats.
It has a voter population of 929,322, with 61 parliamentary candidates vying for the 18 seats.
On November 27, 2020 the Deputy Regional Director of the EC, Mr Eric Dzakpasu, said all was on course for a smooth election and that they had received all voting materials.
Targets
The NPP leadership said they were working towards agenda 5/35, that is five seats and 35 per cent of the total valid votes cast but th NDC has maintained that the Volta Region is a no go area
Two constituencies where the contest will be hotter are Ketu North and Hohoe as the NPP is bent on snatching them from the NDC but the NDC said it would win all the seats in the region.
With the slogan ‘all the votes’, the NDC said it was on the path of redeeming the people from what they call ‘lies’ of the NPP.