A political Scientist, Rev Lenin BK Trotsky has predicted that there is a high probability for the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) to win the December general elections.

He says GUM has gathered political momentum with Rev Christian Kwabena Andrews (Osofo Kyiriabosom) as its Flagbearer and Alhaji Abu Grant Lukman, as his running mate.

“GUM movement now has the momentum pulling bigger crowds than our opponents – the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in this year’s campaigns,” Political Scientist, GUM, said in a statement.

Rev Andrews of GUM is said to be leading both Akufo-Addo of NPP and John Mahama of NDC in several opinion polls conducted by FireTV, which reveal the majority of Ghanaians are fed up with the two domineering parties because of their botched policies.

Accordingly, voters are calling for a change which Rev Trotsky believes would bring GUM to power in the next elections.

He blamed Akufo-Addo for failing to honour his promise of building one factory in each of Ghana’s 216 administrative districts and releasing one million dollars for each constituency every year to enhance development as pledged in 2016.

Both NPP and NDC were also accused of selling off and abandoning state enterprises like the Bonsa Tyre Company, Takwa Gold Refinery, Asutware Sugar Factory, Bolgatanga Meat Factory etc. set up by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president.

He quizzed why Akyim Akroso Railway Station in the Asani Manso District of Eastern Region which had been abandoned since 1991, has not been resuscitated to open job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth. 

“This is the reason why this December 2020 election, Ghanaians are going to say no to NPP and NDC, rejecting these two parties  by voting Ghana Union Movement to come and save Ghana from collapsing,” Rev Trotsky said.

To him, the answer to many questions being asked by Ghanaians about why they should again vote for NPP or NDC and what is the deciding factor for the polls, was amply provided in GUM.

According to him, the presidential and parliamentary elections in December were all about changing the status quo and the current economic hardship, chronic unemployment, lies and unfulfilled campaign promises.

On voting buying ahead of the polls, he cautioned electorates against allowing themselves to be influenced by money, stressing: “Don’t allow any MP or presidential candidate of any party or official to buy your vote.”

While condemning the NPP and NDC for giving out loans secretly to people for votes, he described the duo political organisations as experts in taking loans during election for vote buying.

He described the conditions behind the loans as appalling and distasteful for democracy as loan seekers are compelled to swear an oath by invoking a river god such as Antoa with the smashing of an egg on the ground, and those who refuse to do so, would have their “voter ID cards seized.”

There had been reports of money sharing during some political party primaries and video footage of money being loaded into a secret room and the alleged mysterious death one person captured in a video packing money which went viral on social media.

This, Rev Trotsky said such reports learnt vivid credence to attempts by some top political parties to influence voters with money during the general elections.

“We urge Ghanaians to be on the watch out and be vigilant when people approach them with money or loan during this campaign period,” he added, “Do not accept it or you may accept it but vote against them because it is stolen money.”

“Please, know that the money is government money and belong to you and the Ghana government, so collect it but vote against them,” he stated, but added GUM would not give money or gift for votes because “we believe it is wrong and unfair.”

He, therefore, called on electorates to vote for GUM for job creation, revamp abandoned state factories and deal ruthlessly with pervasive public sector corruption.

Meanwhile, the Movement had strongly indicated it would cause a constitutional change and amend indemnity clauses shielding the President against corrupt acts and also review downwards salaries of MPs, Ministers and other government officials.

By Akutu Dede Adimer