Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, is hopeful for a succesful elections of national executives by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to him, he expects a healthy contest and an outcome that will be reflective of the wishes of the people. He indicated that despite the violence which erupted at the party’s national youth and women’s event, the elections of national executives expected to take place on Saturday, December 17, 2022, should set better example.

“I did not expect the violence that characterized last week’s event to repeat itself in the conduct of the election this weekend. I expect that by this time people may have intervened and the elders within the party I’m sure they’ve spoken to all and the experienced contenders themselves, I’m sure have spoken to their supporters… So, I do not expect violence again. I expect a healthy contest and an outcome that will be reflective of the wishes of the people.”
Prof Ransford Gyampo

Prof Gyampo stated that politics in Africa and even in matured democracies sometimes get personal and emotional. In such cases, he noted that there may be certain occurrences and utterances in campaigning that one can describe as below the belt.

Nonetheless, he explained that such differences and confrontations ought to be handled in a rational manner.

“So, I know in the lead up to the elections expected to take place this Saturday, there are so many utterances, leaked videos and tapes have been played out there. They are all characteristics of how developing democracies conduct politicking and electioneering campaigning. But I want to hope and believe that after this, they will be able to close their ranks, end adversarial politics and forge ahead.”
Prof Ransford Gyampo

Commenting on some of the disappointments and dissatisfactions expressed by winners in last week’s elections at the youth level, Prof Gyampo highlighted that it is not a new phenomenon for contestants to act on the spur of the moment and step on toes. He stated that should there be a replication of violence at Saturday’s election, he is optimistic there will be powers to intervene to ensure that they all resolve their differences and focus on the main ambition of winning power in the next election.

“I’ll tell you that if you look at the fact that somebody, you’re expecting to support you and never supported you, you tend to be a bit emotional and disappointed and it is normal for such utterances to come, especially from people who felt disappointed. But I can also believe by this time, if you’re not hearing the same combatants talking again publicly, it should simply tell you that some other powers beyond them may have intervened and spoken to them…”
Ransford Gyampo

Citing the rift between the national youth organizer, George Opare Addo and the party’s communication officer, Sammy Gyamfi, he noted that they are no longer talking, and he expects the powerful forces and elders within the party to be alert so in case anything of the sort that happened last week happens again, they will act with alacrity just to be able to ensure that the unity and cohesion of the party is not sacrificed.

The UG political scientist revealed that the party commits a “political suicide” if it allows some of these things to fester and continue.

“Election is a contest of ideas and it’s not about fighting and violence. I’m not happy and I’m sure well-meaning Ghanaians, including those who perpetrated the violence themselves, I’m sure their attention may have been drawn to whatever they did and how bad it is and they themselves are not happy because it mars the image of the party. So, we are all not happy about some of these things because if they are not addressed, they may rear their ugly heads in bigger elections…”
Ransford Gyampo