The National
Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a report by the Economist Intelligence
Unit (EIU) predicting victory for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020
elections in its latest report.
“The NDC welcomes this latest report, and states
as a political party, we respect the EIU as an internationally-reputed policy
think tank which has been noted over the years for political and economic
forecasting, however, we wish to state, the EIU’s predictions are not
sacrosanct or proven facts,” it said.
Reacting to the
report, the NDC, in a statement signed by Sammy Gyamfi, the National
Communication Officer, said “the next national elections are due in 2020,the
Economist Intelligence Unit expects the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to retain power,
as the party is seen as better custodian of economy than National Democratic
Congress.
“Even though some of their predictions
have, in times past, come to pass, they have gotten it wrong on many occasions,
for instance, the EIU predicted 2008 general election for then presidential candidate
Nana Akufo-Addo, but Professor Evans Mills of the NDC won that election.
“They
predicted 2016 US election for Hillary Clinton, but Donald Trump won, EIU’s
recent prediction of Nigerian election in favour of PDP’s Atiku equally failed,
and there are countless other examples.
“Having done an objective and dispassionate
analysis of the latest EIU report on the nation, the NDC comes to the
irresistible conclusion, EIU has largely gotten their latest prediction of 2020
general election wrong,” the statement said.
The report
released on Friday September 13, 2019, however, noted that if NDC can present
coherent opposition, the NPP should be held to account on unfulfilled campaign
promises, job creation and
industrialisation, and “where progress has been generally slow and success
patchy, the election could be closely contested”.
“The next presidential and parliamentary
elections are due in December 2020, during the remainder of term in office of
President Nana Akufo-Addo, the economic situation will generally improve then
NPP and President Akufo-Addo will win the 2020 elections because the citizenry
see them as better custodians of the economy.
“In presidential election, President
Akufo-Addo will face a challenge from former President John Mahama, who was elected
flagbearer of NDC in February 2019, it will be difficult for NDC to portray as
better custodian of the economy as growth outlook fairly strong expects
President Akufo-Addo and NPP to secure re-election in 2020,” the report
maintained. -peacefmonline.com