Why Mahama Made It-Voters Say His Persona And Leadership Style Were Key

In the wake of last weekend�s election, a number of agencies who appear to deserve credit for the elections are some polling houses, especially the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which in its October report said President John Mahama was a slight favourite in the December polls, which it predicted was going to be extremely close. Reasons given in earlier polls noted that even though the majority of Ghanaians had favourable impressions of the two frontrunners for the 2012 elections, the favourability rating for President John Mahama was higher than that for the New Patriotic Party�s Nana Akufo-Addo when respondents were asked to determine the favourability rating for each candidate separately. A good number also expected life to be better under President Mahama than under Nana Akufo Addo. Compared with the actual results, the NPP could be said to have done a lot to somehow neutralise the NDC�s advantage in the few weeks to the elections. The favourable views about the NDC expressed in the surveys were unsurprisingly echoed by some jubilating NDC supporters in Takoradi, who told The Finder�s correspondent in the city that they voted for the President because of the performance of the NDC in government, the President�s personal appeal, leadership and understanding of the Ghanaian issues. Others also said they voted for him because they did not want the opposition NPP to win. Ms Habiba Sulemana, a young lady from Sekondi Zongo, described the incumbent President, John Dramani Mahama, as humble, learned and hardworking. She described him as loving and caring, just as his predecessor, Professor Evans Atta Mills, demonstrated when he was in office. Others also appeared to have voted in expectation that things might get better, an expectation likely to be the litmus test for the NDC in four years� time. Mr. Frank Oti, a carpenter, for instance, told The Finder that the President elect should prove to his critics that he was capable of leading the country. �He should create jobs, improve the education sector and build strong economy that would stand the test of time as the nation continues her oil and gas exploration,� he said.