Research fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. John Osae-Kwapong says the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections are not forgone conclusions.
He said although the general mood of the country is tilting towards change in the December 7 polls, considering the difficulties that beset Ghanaians, the electorates could decide to stick with the governing New Patriotic Party, believing that a future government of the party will address the challenges.
“They could still be feeling the pinch in their pockets but still choose to go with the incumbent. That’s a possible outcome that they’ll still trust that the incumbent can get them out of it and then there are others who will look at the pinch they are feeling in their pockets and think I want to try somebody else because I believe and trust that they are in a better position to be able to help me deal with the pinch that I’m feeling in my pocket,” he stated.
Dr. Osae-Kwapong was speaking on the back of the unveiling of manifestos by the two leading political parties ahead of the 2024 elections.
The NPP was the first to outdoor its manifesto, which it says, is aimed at addressing rising cost of living, unemployment and lack of motorable roads.
The NDC followed with its manifesto dubbed “Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability and Prosperity”, pledging to turn things around if it is given the mandate.
Dr. Osae-Kwapong said the electorates are discerning and will examine thoroughly the policy proposals by the parties in making their choice.
He, however, believes the track record of the parties and their candidates will ultimately influence the decision of the electorates.
“We are facing some challenges –socioeconomic, some governance challenges as well. The parties have put out ideas and it’s up to the Ghanaian voter to make their way through all of these proposals and ideas and go back to the first question that you asked which is given everything that has happened, given all of these issues and all of these challenges, whom do they trust to help address them for them?” he said in an interview on TV3 on Saturday.
