A former Deputy Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has blamed the party’s loss in the 2016 general elections on a campaign strategy that was largely managed by persons he calls “strangers.”

According to him, about one million voters did not vote for the NDC because of the strategies and personalities the party employed for its campaigns.

The former Deputy General Secretary who was speaking to some journalists stressed that the party shall not use the same tactics in the 2020 elections.

“One million of our voters did not vote for us in 2016. They do not have any understanding of the party’s philosophy and the history. Never again should we put our campaign in the hands of strangers. Never again should we hand over the NDC’s campaign to celebrities,” he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo defeated John Mahama, then incumbent president, to become the president of Ghana in the 2016 general elections.

Akufo-Addo polled 53.9% of the total valid votes, while John Mahama managed 44.4%, the worse so far for an incumbent President.

The NDC subsequently set up a committee to probe its abysmal performance. The Committee has already submitted its report to the leadership of the party.

Results from research conducted by some academics at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana have shown that President Nana Akufo-Addo will beat former president John Dramani Mahama hands down should elections be held again.

Per the results earlier presented by Head of Political Science Department, Dr Maame Gyekye-Jandoh, President Akufo-Addo would have led the poll with 49.3% with John Mahama trailing behind with 33.3%.

“For Nana Akufo-Addo, 49.3% said they would vote for him, 33.3% said they would vote for Mahama and 7.35 for Paa Kwesi Nduom,” she said.

She said the elections might head for a run-off since although Akufo-Addo may have taken the lead, he may not be able to cross the 50 per cent plus one mark to be retained as president.

“These responses indicate simply and unsurprisingly that the two major parties are still the most preferred among voters, and secondly, that there might be another contest between President Akufo-Addo and former President Mahama during the 2020 elections,” she added.