Ghana’s former High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Lee Ocran, has opened up on some of the harrowing reasons that might have perforated and ruptured the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) chances of winning the 2016 general elections.
As one of those in charge of preparing the NDC’s 2016 manifesto, Ambassador Lee Ocran reveals that prior to the elections, he was “cocksure” that his party would be retained, until figures trickling in showed the New Patriotic Party polling astronomical figures in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Speaking on Radio Gold, the NDC stalwart noted that for the party to have lost the 2016 elections by those huge margins, clearly shows the NDC engaged in acts that the electorate frowned on.
“We were sure we were going to win but the results show we were doing things the people didn’t like. We thought we were doing the best, but if the results were genuine, they didn’t like what we were doing”, he said.
To him, the NDC did a good job in explaining it's policies to the electorates, thus was surprised to find out the ineffectiveness of most of their campaign messages, and conjectured whether Ghanaians conceded that indeed they were incompetent or corrupt.
“We are trying to find out by going out to know from the people- not only NDC members about what went wrong. Maybe the people took in the promises of the opposition. Maybe they believed we were stealing their money or we were incompetent”, he stated.
Ambassador Lee Ocran however admitted that the NDC erred grievously in scrapping allowances meant for nurses. This decision, he explained, was a bad move that contributed significantly to their defeat.
“Some decisions we took were not right – scrapping of nurses allowances was not right- I think because they (trainee nurses) have no chance of applying for student loans, their allowances shouldn’t have been scrapped. It was not proper”, he lamented.
To admit more students in the various nursing training colleges, the former NDC administration stripped the trainees off such benefit.
The former administration had complained that the huge amount it paid as allowances to the trainees prevented it from admitting more students.
But the decision was met with much resistance from the students who rely on the allowances to support themselves in school.
However following recommendations from a committee the previous administration set up to investigate the matter government, they subsequently restored the allowance following the recommendations they received.
Despite the late modification, Ambassador Lee Ocran insists it did little to enhance their chances of winning the elections.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
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Dont think far ...just listen to Dr Asem Fofro and you will be provided all the reasons that led to your loss at the last polls wai.
This bloke must have been on the moon Greedy bastards. To quote your own founder Keep lying to yourselves and everyone and stay in opposition forever...
sure you were. do not pretend. NDC REAL ***barred word***. REALLY INCOMPETENT. See one example, when northern shs schools were shut because feeding monies were not set -mahama's own people who he told to vote for him as son of the soil - mahama had money to buy vehicles and share to chiefs and akua donkor and committed 14 million dollars to build vp's house because of greed. What was the need? complete incompetence and misplaced priority. ***barred word*** MAHAMA AND NDC - GO AWAY FOR GOOD,. NEVER DREAM OF COMING BACK TO POWER. AND SOME ***barred word*** ARE SAYING MAHAMA IS NDC BEST BET FOR 2020? tweaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
NDC taught they could manipulate the figures at the electoral commission and win, hence took Ghanaians for granted,forgetting it is not all day for ***barred word*** man. They tired to change the figures but was not successful,the God that Ghanaian worship did not allow it.
Both.... NDC guys are both incompetent and thifs...
Mahama did not prosecute a single case of a corruption allegation: SSADA, PURC, Wayome ETc, ETc. His ministers and officials were pompous and not courteous. They took us for a ride.
Lee, you guys were all of what you said people thought of you, Nana is just going slow on you guys,but soon you will all run and bring the monies you stole. You lee, used your power and influence to take a parcel of land from someone in Nawule to build that your mansion on top of the hill, that individual has been crying still and you think you will be happy?
Ambassador Ocran, truth is you had no campaign message. I am 66 years old and 5' 4'. you expended your energies in insulting the NPP candidate of his age and height, so I voted for him. Am sure am not alone.
These two; STEAALLING & INCOMPETENCE the Trade Mark of Mahama led NDC. The other thing was that sttuppidd & F00OLISH people filled your party among them are Koku Anyidaho, Kofi Adams, Solomon Nkansah, Okudzato Ablakwa, Fred Agbenyo, Kwadwo Twum-Boafo, Kwaku Baohen etc. just to mention a few.
These two; STEAALLING & INCOMPETENCE the Trade Mark of Mahama led NDC. The other thing was that sttuppidd & F00OLISH people filled your party among them are Koku Anyidaho, Kofi Adams, Solomon Nkansah, Okudzato Ablakwa, Fred Agbenyo, Kwadwo Twum-Boafo, Kwaku Baohen etc. just to mention a few.