There are about 37 weeks to the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The two main political ?combatants? ? the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have intensified their strategies.

As part of The Daily Dispatch?s exclusive guide and countdown to the elections, we focus on the strategies both parties will put in each other?s strongholds. The NPP has intensified its presence in the NDC?s ?political World Bank? ? the Volta Region ? to increase its votes and minimize any election malpractices. The NDC will also have the same double-headed objectives ? minimize any election malpractices and increase their votes.

The NDC will clearly be aiming to improve upon the performance of its flagbearer in December?s elections, Prof. Evans Atta Mills, in the Ashanti Region. In the December 7, 2000 Presidential election (first round), Prof Mills had a little over 22% of valid votes cast in that region. In the December 28 run-off, the law Professor had a little over 20%. The NDC strategy will be for the Professor to obtain at least 30% of votes in the Ashanti Region in December 2004.

Ex-President Jerry Rawlings had over 32% of valid votes cast in the Ashanti Region in the 1996 Presidential Elections. In the 1996 elections, President John Kufour, then a candidate of the then main opposition NPP, had nearly 66% of votes in the 1996 elections. In the December 7, 2000 elections, the President raised his percentage points in the region to over 74% and in the December 28 run-off, had nearly 80% of the votes.

The average Ghanaian has been surprised at the acrimonious nature that some NPP constituency primaries in the Volta Region have undergone. The surprise is borne out of the fact the Volta Region is the NPP?s ?weakest?, politically.

The NPP/then, Mr Kufour had 4.7% (34,538) of votes in the Volta Region during the 1996 Presidential elections. In the December 7, 2000 elections, it increased to 8.4% (46,768) and to 11.5%.