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
