The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has responsed to recent statements by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Communications Director, Richard Ahiagba, who claimed that the NPP would secure 500,000 votes in the Volta Region in the upcoming December elections.

According to the NDC, this ambitious projection is not only far-fetched but also demonstrates the NPP’s lack of connection with the realities on the ground.

The NDC’s Volta Regional Communications Officer, Sorkpa Kafui Agbleze, denounced Mr Ahiagba’s projection as “absurd” and “frankly insulting” to the intelligence of Voltarians, arguing that the NPP has historically fallen far short of similar targets in the past.

In an official statement, Mr Agbleze pointed to the NPP’s vote history in the Volta Region, highlighting their failure to make substantial electoral gains despite repeatedly setting high benchmarks.

“Since 2008, the NPP has set unrealistic targets in the Volta Region, only to underperform each time. Their figures have consistently wavered, with no meaningful improvement,” Agbleze stated.

For instance, the NPP set a 30% target for the Volta Region in the 2016 presidential election but garnered only 10.81% of the vote. In 2020, despite claims that they were gaining ground, they achieved just 14.14%. According to the NDC, the NPP’s fluctuating vote percentages—15.38% in 2008, 12.9% in 2012, and a low of 10.18% in 2016—illustrate a persistent lack of traction in the Volta Region.

The NDC further critiqued the feasibility of the NPP’s current goal, given the Volta Region’s voter statistics. With approximately 1,023,147 registered voters in the region, achieving nearly 500,000 votes would demand an unprecedented level of trust and support that the NPP has historically been unable to attain.

“This target would require a level of support that the NPP has never earned and will never receive, particularly from a population that has been hit hard by economic hardships under their administration,” Mr Agbleze argued, alluding to the current economic conditions including inflation, high unemployment rates, and the depreciating value of the cedi.

Rather than setting what the NDC calls “fantasy” goals, Mr Agbleze urged the NPP to take accountability for the economic difficulties that have affected the livelihoods of Ghanaians, particularly in the Volta Region.

The NDC argues that the region has faced enough economic challenges, and any ambitious claims by the NPP are a testament to the “disconnect between their rhetoric and reality.”

In his statement, Mr Agbleze assured the NDC’s commitment to maintaining the Volta Region as a historic stronghold, emphasising that the people of the region are “fully aware” of which party truly prioritizes their welfare.

He called on the public to remain discerning, rejecting what he described as “empty promises” from the NPP.

This passionate response from the NDC underscores the intensity of the political rivalry as the December 7 elections draw closer, especially in regions traditionally dominated by the party.

The NDC remains confident in their solid support within the Volta Region and is determined to sustain that strength against what they see as exaggerated promises from their opponents.