Okaikoi North Parliamentary Seat

AN APPEAL TO THE OKAKWEI NORTH NPP ‘KINGMAKERS' --- ’The case for change. The risk of continuity’ .......................................................................................................................................................................... The time has come again. The time to select a candidate to represent us at Ghana’s Legislative Arm of Government. Today, as you read this piece, remember that ’opportunity comes but once.’ The current MP has honorably served her term. She has held the mantle for two consecutive terms; eight years. A recent research has shown that after eight years in political office, diminishing returns on the person’s drive to articulate the cause of the masses sets in. It is for this same reason, perhaps that, in most countries, the presidential term of office is set at two terms or a maximum of eight years. No wonder the saying goes that; ’the more you stay in power, the more you lose touch with the common people’. A study of the constituency election results since 2004 testifies that most people are on the course of change. That is the nature of the Ghanaian voter, ’ ….we have tried candidate A, so this time around let us try B and see what the effect will be’. I stand with this school of thought and we are collectively calling on our dear NPP Kingmakers in our constituency to select a candidate who will appeal to those of us in the broader majority. The table below clearly shows that most voters are fed up with the same ‘’taste of soup in our bowl’’. Although the NPP Candidate won both 2004 and 2008 elections, any basic analysis will show that the candidate failed miserably to achieve points in what election analysts refer to as vote improvement. Unlike the good 2004 performance with a significant and impressive stretch of 9,205 vote difference, your candidate managed to make a difference of 2,830 in 2008. It will be very, very risky to present the same candidate if you seriously want to retain the seat. The risk of not changing your candidate is that in 2012, the majority will vote for a candidate from any other stronger candidate from any other Party. The trend is that the bulk of floating voters will prefer a candidate with huge clout and not just a candidate from Party A or B. Election Year 2004 2008 2012 Votes for NPP Candidate 44,573 44,172 x Votes for NDC Candidate 35,368 41,342 x Difference in Votes 9,205 2,830 x Table 1:1 Election Results Extract From EC of Ghana Kingmakers, we appeal to you, if you present a ‘weak engine’ to us in April, do not expect us to pull a miracle by winning the ‘Formula 1’ Race. The April race counts but the main show is the 2012 race. That is the real Formula 1 and you have to select a younger candidate, a candidate with a mass appeal who can win the hearts of floating voters. As I always say, a word to the wise is enough. Kwabena Asomaning kwasomaning@gmail.com