Remarking on the launch of the Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC), which aims to serve as an antidote to the NDC, and NPP duopoly in Ghana’s political sphere, Political Scientist, Dr. Alidu Seidu, has noted that, the nature of geopolitics in the Fourth Republic may stifle the Alliance’s goal.
He noted that a major impediment to the conduct of politics in Ghana is geopolitics, clarifying that geopolitics in the Fourth Republic has created groups of unrepentant party followers that blur the line between good leaders and charismatic leaders.
He indicated that geopolitics in Ghana’s Fourth Republic has led to complacency between the major political parties. He stated that complacency in the NDC and the NPP manifests in their second term in government and it is shown in the manner in which these parties react to the problems of the citizenry.
He further noted that most Ghanaians are familiar with the leadership of these two political parties, emphasizing that Ghanaians have tested the leaders of these two parties as either a Minister or Deputy Minister of State, a CEO of a government agency, a Vice President, or a President.
He noted that Ghana’s problem has always been breaking the geopolitics, indicating that the political parties and groupings that have emerged over the years failed to break the geopolitics because they have always organized and mobilized in a very disaggregated manner.
“So what actually happened yesterday was a very interesting development for political watchers. That, smaller political parties and organizations think if they mobilize collectively, share resources, and capitalize on the disaffection of the general Ghanaian population toward… the two major political parties, they should be able to make an impact”.
Dr. Alidu Seidu
Furthermore, Dr. Seidu stated that Ghana’s problems have been the same since independence as the country continues to deal with corruption, unemployment, and balance of payment deficit among others.
He opined that Ghanaians will not be drawn to the new alliance, ARC, because of the proposed solutions it seeks to bring on board as political parties in the Fourth Republic have all presented the same solutions over the years.
The Political Scientist noted that the novel thing about the ARC is the team that it brings aboard, as the team has a leadership combination and a different approach to leadership that Ghanaians have not experimented with.
NPP, NDC Still Dominant
Dr. Alidu Seidu noted that it is only practical for the ARC alliance to have doubts about its presence and influence as opinion polls conducted so far still reflect the dominance of the two major political parties. He clarified that most of the polls predict the NDC’s victory followed closely by the NPP.
He indicated that it would be very difficult for the ARC alliance to win political power outright in the December 2024 polls. He however stated that the alliance can cause a run-off to occur in the Presidential Election if it works hard to get at least 10% of the vote cast.
“They can push the election to a run of and become the kingmakers. But one big problem they may face moving forward is the fact that our constitution…will make it very difficult for a union government to be instituted and that is the promise of this particular movement. Unless of course, constitutional change arrangements are put in place”.
Dr. Alidu Seidu
Moreover, he indicated that the type of government this alliance is promising Ghanaians is not supported by the 1992 Constitution, clarifying that while the constitution states that the majority of Ministers should be chosen from Parliament, a union government chooses its Ministers from different fields.
He noted that the kind of union government the ARC is proposing had been implemented close to the end of the military government but failed woefully.
“Union government means that you are going to have every shade of opinion of people that matters in the country. Farmers, fishermen, lawyers engineers…everybody playing crucial roles in the government’s postures”. – Dr. Alidu Seidu
Moreover, Dr. Seidu noted that the ARC has a good blueprint, emphasizing that implementing a good strategy may allow the alliance to be a kingmaker, and “they decide who they support and on what terms and conditions they support them”.
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