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The National Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku says the party is going into the 2020 elections as though they are in opposition.

According to him the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) should take note that the party is not going to bask in the glory of the latest report of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Morning Show, he emphatically stated that NPP welcomes the report with a pledge to guard against complacency and promised to go the extra mile in election 2020.

He reiterated that in terms of predictions, the EIU always gets their facts right - at least 95% accurate  but refused to take it as if the victory of NPP in 2020 election depends on it.

“I think the EIU report is trying to shape us to know our strength and weakness but what gives me encouragement as the National Organizer is the zeal to do more hence not leaving any room and space for complacency."

The Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, has predicted that the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, will secure re-election in 2020.

The report on Ghana released on May 13, 2019, said it will be difficult for the opposition NDC under former President John Dramani Mahama, to portray itself as the better custodian of Ghana’s economy, especially as the country’s growth outlook looks fairly strong.

The EIU has over the years released similar reports and predictions on Ghana’s elections, which in a number of cases have turned out to be right.

Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 elections, beat then President John Mahama by polling 5,716,026 million votes, representing 53.85%, while John Mahama polled 4,713,277 million votes representing 44.40%, the worse so far for an incumbent President.

Election Watch

Specifically, on elections, the EIU says “Nana Akufo-Addo, the President, and his NPP will see the country’s economic situation generally improve during the remainder of their terms of office."  "In the presidential election, it says Akufo-Addo will face a challenge from John Mahama— Ghana’s president from 2012 to early 2017, who was elected leader of the opposition NDC in February 2019.”

It says "the 2016 legislative election was won by the NPP; and the campaign was dominated by the faltering economy, which many Ghanaians still associate with Mr Mahama.” Accordingly, “The Economist Intelligence Unit believes that it will be difficult for the NDC under Mr Mahama to portray itself as the better custodian of Ghana’s economy, especially as the country’s growth outlook is fairly strong.”

They, therefore, said they “expect Mr. Akufo-Addo and the NPP to secure re-election in 2020.”

They, however, noted that, “if the NDC can present a coherent opposition and hold the NPP to account on unfulfilled campaign promises particularly on job creation and industrialisation, where progress has been generally slow and success patchy—the election could be closely contested.”