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NDC to launch operation win ballot box
Kumasi, April 22, Ghanadot/GNA – The
National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the weekend announced
a campaign strategy dubbed: “Operation Win the Ballot Box,”
which seeks to police the electoral process to ensure that,
the outcome of Election 2008 is not tampered with at any
stage.
“The period from casting to counting is a very crucial
moment for winning election, the NDC therefore has started
the process of politically empowering its foot soldiers and
the rank and file to understand the electoral process.
“Elections are won or lost mainly on the Election Day, as a
veteran politician who had won three consecutive elections
at Bole Bamboi, if you campaign hard but on Election Day you
go to sleep, trust me, you will loss.
“We will therefore educate our members on the operational
modalities to win the ballot box at every polling station,
we must ensure that, all the political stakeholders on
Election Day adhere to their core functions,” Mr John
Dramani Mahama, NDC Vice Presidential Candidate for Election
2008 told the Ghana News Agency at Kumasi over the weekend.
He called for vigilance to ensure that “no one steals the
mandate of the people through the back door mainly due to
electoral inexperience of polling station agents.”
Mr. Mahama, who was recently announced as the running mate
to Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC flag bearer urged
NDC supporters, especially those who would be selected as
polling station agents to trust the electoral officials,
“but verify the information before you used it”.
Speaking to students of the Winneba College of Education,
Kumasi Campus branch of Tertiary Education Network of the
NDC, Mr. Mahama explained: “I am a candidate capable of
eliminating intra and inter party antagonism, a disposition
essential to attract floating voters.
“I standout among the lot as the most affable, politically
mature, with an unblemished reputation both in private and
in public life, international exposed and highly connected,
high diplomatic negotiation skills and ability to work with
every Ghanaian irrespective of one’s political background.”
These qualities we need to complement Prof. Mills to ensure
that the party wins massively during the December polls, he
noted, stressing; “I salute all leading members of the party
for their contribution towards the development of the great
NDC.
“We should all marshal resources as victory is knocking at
our doorstep, we need the support of all members, we must
all come home and be part of the winning team.”
He also urged the students to approach Election 2008
campaigning with peaceful attitude, tolerate opposing views
but must be vigilant.
Mr. Mahama observed that Election 2008 posed a great
challenge to all institutions that have significant and
vital roles to play for the attainment of a free and fair
poll.
The contributions of bodies like the executive, parliament,
judiciary, political parties, the media and the general
public are very crucial for the survival of the country’s
young democracy.
He therefore challenged the other political parties not only
to profess peace but adopt pragmatic measures to ensure that
the pronouncement of their followers both in public,
especially on the airwaves does not instigate violence.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South
disclosed that peace, transparency would be the hallmark of
NDC Government and urged the electorate to vote massively
for Prof. Mills and NDC parliamentary candidates across the
length and breadth of the country.
Other leading members who accompanied Mr. Mahama to Kumasi,
described as stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party,
were Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary, Mrs. Ama
Benyimah Doe, Women Organiser, Mr. Mohamed Ayariga,
MP for Bawku Central.
GNA
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