NPP confident about ‘breaking the 8’ despite EIU forecast; boasts of better record than NDC

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is optimistic about its chances of holding on to power at the end of the 2024 general elections despite the projections by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

In its latest released five-year forecast, the EIU has tipped the opposition National Democratic Congress to wrestle power from the NPP in the next general elections.

Through an official statement from the NPP sharing its thoughts on that projection, the party says it boasts of a better cumulative record than the umbrella party and expects to ride on that to defy the EIU forecast.

“The EIU cites slow governance progress as another reason for change in 2024. Unemployment, Infrastructure, and Anti-Corruption. The cumulative record of the NPP in the 4th Republic is better on all these factors than the NDC.

“But more importantly, NDC has not demonstrated any policy capacity capable of turning out better and faster outcomes in the areas listed. Indeed, the tendency is for the NDC to set the country back in respect of these factors whenever the eight-year cycle kicks in. The NPP builds and the NDC destroys,” an NPP statement signed by its National Communications Director, Yaw Buaben Asamoa has said.

The NPP statement adds, “Political stability is also a product of the NPP’s quiet yet hard work on the security front. Notwithstanding increased threats of regional instability spilling over into Ghana, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and sometimes very extremist talk from anarchic elements, the EIU predicts without hesitation that there will be political stability over the next five years. A plus for free, fair, and violence-free elections.”

According to the EIU report, ongoing public dissatisfaction with the slow pace of improvements in governance such as infrastructure development, job creation, and easing of corruption will push the electorate to seek a change in the 2024 general elections.

While the odds appear to be in favour of the NDC, the EIU adds that there would be a better chance if the largest opposition party presents a different candidate as flagbearer other than ex-President John Dramani Mahama.