Akufo-Addo is No. 1, Mahama is No. 2 on 2020 ballot paper

President Nana Akufo-Addo will be number one on the ballot for the 2020 elections on December 7.

His rival former President John Dramani Mahama is number two, perhaps in a true spirit of their rivalry.

This was after a keenly anticipated balloting exercise conducting at the head office of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra on Tuesday, October 20.

NPP Director of Elections Evans Nimako after profusely sanitising his hands handed the number one position to his party.

 

Before picking for the NDC, the deputy General Secretary Peter Otokunor was heard singing ‘Onyame sumsum san bra’ to wit ‘Holy Spirit come’.

He picked number two.

The number three spot was picked by Mr. Christian Kwabena Andrews of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM).

Number four went to Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).

The Number five position was drawn by Madam Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) after the candidate danced her way to make a choice.

The Number six position was taken by Mr. Henry Herbert Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

Number seven was captured by Mr. Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC).

Whiles Number eight went to Mr. Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).

Number nine was taken by Mr. David Apasera of the People’s National Convention (PNC).

The Number 10 spot went to Ms. Brigitte Dzogbenuku of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP).

Number eleven went to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Number twelve was Mr. Asiedu Walker, an independent candidate.

Balloting is a big deal for political parties because positions are open to a lot of interpretation and are believed to have some inherent psychological advantage for the presidential candidate.

The NPP campaign has adopted the ‘Four more for Nana to do more for you’ as one of the slogans for the candidate seeking another 4-year mandate.

Early suggestions show the NPP would say ‘Number 1’ means one-touch victory for Nana Akufo-Addo.

There is an NPP campaign song done by Kwabena Kwabena in 2008 promoting the ballot position of Nana Akufo-Addo. The song is titled ‘Number One’.

Some 12 years later, the song is being resurrected for the 2020 presidential polls.

The NDC has already interpreted the number 2 to mean the second coming of John Mahama who was president between 2012 and 2017.

The NDC even before the ballot had adopted the slogan, ‘He Cometh’ to highlight Mahama’s push for a dramatic comeback to the Jubilee House.

But the NPP is also branding the NDC’s Number 2 position to mean Mahama’s second defeat. In retaliation, some in the NDC are spinning the NPP’s number one position to mean Akufo-Addo would only enjoy a ‘one-term’ presidency.

It is thought by some within the party that the number 4 could prove advantageous to the NPP as it could be a sign of endorsement by providence.

But the party is number 1.  Political strategists within the parties would be scratching their heads to come up with catchphrases to draw attention to the presidential candidate’s position on the ballot.

 

2016 elections ballot position

In the last elections held in 2016, Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) was first on the ballot.

At number two was Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

Former President John Dramani Mahama was number three, which inspired the famous John 3:16 campaign song.

At number four was Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) who declined to contest this year.

At number five was President Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP.

Photo: The ballot paper in 2016

At number six was Dr. Edward Mahama of the PNC.

The slot was taken by independent candidate Jacob Osei Yeboah.

Photo: The ballot paper in 2012

Over the past three elections, Nana Akufo-Addo has moved from 3 to 5 and now 1, his final position on a presidential ballot.

Within the same period, John Mahama has moved from 1 to 3 to 2.

They both have number 3 in common and this 2020 presidential election is the third contest between the two political rivals.