Following the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s condemnation of the recent survey conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the findings are accurate and properly depict the current plight of Ghanaians.
The CDD’s study, which was done between July 2 and July 18, 2016 revealed that seven out of every 10 Ghanaians were pessimistic about the country’s fortunes if things continue on the current trajectory.
A sample size of 2,400 adults, from 163 districts and 291 towns and villages was used to gauge the electorates’ mood ahead of December’s polls. However, the NDC rejected the findings, claiming that the CDD was working under the orders of the opposition.
“It is something that the NPP cooked and they have put out… it still remains a fact that the CDD, as far as were are concerned, is an appendage of the NPP,” the Deputy General Secretary of the party, Koku Anyidoho asserted. The CDD has come out in defense of its survey, insisting that the processes it undertook were credible and describing the NDC’s comments as “unfortunate.”
In a statement signed by their Communications Director, Nana Akomeah, NPP stated that the survey correctly reflected the struggles of Ghanaian citizens under the current NDC administration.
“The findings from the survey highlight the clear sentiments of the vast majority of Ghanaians on President Mahama’s leadership of this country,” the statement said.
“The CDD Report shows President Mahama has miserably failed in addressing the issues that are of the most concern to the Ghanaian. masses, including employment , provision of electricity , economic management , and corruption.”
The NPP believes that the findings of the CDD survey was corroborated by previous research undertaken by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and echoed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Find below, the full statement from the NPP
CDD SURVEY CAPTURES THE PAIN OF GHANAIANS AND THE GREAT DESIRE TO CHANGE IN ELECTION 2016
The CDD has conducted extensive opinion survey in July 2016. The findings from the survey highlights the clear sentiments of the vast majority of Ghanaians on President Mahama’s leadership of this country. The CDD Report shows President Mahama has miserably failed in addressing the issues that are of the most concern to the Ghanaian. masses, including employment , provision of electricity , economic management , and corruption.
According to the CDD report, 70% of Ghanaians say President Mahama has not only failed in managing the economy but that the country was headed in the wrong direction. 70% of Ghanaians reported that corruption has led to a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. 70% of Ghanaians indicated that President Mahama has failed in job creation. 70% of Ghanaians believed President Mahama has failed in bringing down the cost of living, and that the prices of basic goods and services are out of reach for the average Ghanaian.
In sum, 7 out of 10 Ghanaians have clearly rejected President Mahama’s leadership of this country and cannot tolerate another four years of his leadership. The findings of this CDD survey reinforces an earlier survey done in May 2016 by the IEA, which also reported that the main concern of majority of Ghanaians was Poverty.
It also reinforces the two EIU surveys conducted this year which also reported that majority of Ghanaians are disappointed in the economic management of President Mahama and hence will vote for the opposition Npp and Nana Akufo-Addo. The surveys also underscore the Ghanaian TUC’s stance delivered to President Mahama in Kumasi last Wednesday .
The TUC told President Mahama that Ghanaians were getting poorer; that wages of Ghanaian workers had seen sharp decline in value due to rising inflation, loss of value of the cedi and the IMF programme which has cut subsidies at time when value of the cedi has fallen drastically; that the gains workers had from single spine had also been eroded by high inflation and fall in cedi’s value.
The workers said they cannot cope with this bad situation any longer. All these surveys and pronouncements also vindicate the NPP’s long-held position that the NDC government is largely engaged in propaganda and make believe instead of focusing on cutting corruption and waste and on prudent policies and programmes that will uplift the Ghanaian economy.
The NPP is very much encouraged by these endorsements and will work even harder to deliver the change Ghanaians need.
Nana Akomea
Director of Communications
Sign up here to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana, Africa. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
