The Chairman of the Council of Elders for the South African branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quarshie, has revealed the strategic measures adopted to flip the Ablekuma West and Ayawaso Central parliamentary seats in favour of the NDC during the December 7 elections.

According to Mr. Quarshie, the South African branch deliberately focused on these constituencies to unseat the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, and Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central all in the Greater Accra Region.

Explaining the rationale, Mr. Quarshie disclosed that research conducted by the branch indicated these constituencies could swing to the NDC with targeted effort.

"We adopted these constituencies because research showed that with a little work, the seats could flip," he said.

A key strategy was a robust door-to-door campaign that emphasized engaging directly with constituents.

This personalized approach allowed the NDC to convey its message effectively, which, according to Mr. Quarshie, resonated strongly with voters.

“Our approach to the people was key. We took the message to them, and they appreciated it.

The NDC’s message aligned with the aspirations of the people,” he added.

Mr. Quarshie noted that both Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Henry Quartey appeared overly confident about retaining their seats, assuming them to be safe strongholds for the NPP.

This, he said, worked in favour of the NDC, as the incumbents underestimated the party’s grassroots efforts.

“We observed that both the former Interior Minister and the Communications Minister had grown complacent, believing their seats were unassailable.

However, upon assessment, we realized these seats were within reach and took decisive action,” he explained.

While celebrating the victory, Mr. Quarshie cautioned the NDC against complacency, urging the party to sustain its connection with the people.

He also advised President-elect John Dramani Mahama to avoid the mistakes of the outgoing administration under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

“If the NDC takes this win for granted, it could result in the party losing favour in the future.

President-elect Mahama must prioritize good governance and avoid the pitfalls of his predecessor,” he warned.

He made these remarks while speaking in an interview on Accra-based Kessben FM on Monday December 16, 2024