Ghana’s political landscape braces for a seismic shift as Fitch Solutions has predicted a victory for former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the upcoming December 2024 general elections.
The latest report from Fitch Solutions underscores a notable alteration in Ghana’s political dynamics, positioning the opposition National democratic Congress as the leading contender for the country’s upcoming national election.
“We anticipate that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by former President John Mahama, will win Ghana’s December 2024 elections. Our forecast is informed by the incumbent NPP’s waning popularity, attributed to rising popular perceptions of economic mismanagement and the erosion of real household incomes over the past two years”
Fitch Solutions April Report
The report painted a stark picture of economic distress plaguing the nation, with perceptions of economic mismanagement reaching a crescendo under the tenure of the incumbent New Patriotic Party’s administartion.
The report further noted that the potential challenge facing the ruling government in the December 7 polls is fuelled by persistently high inflation rates averaging 40.3%, the highest since 1996, and a sharp depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the US dollar, with citizens grappling with weakened living standards and eroded real household incomes.
Furthermore, the latest report by fitch solution stated that a staggering 65% of respondents in a survey conducted by Global Info Analytics underscored the role of economy in the December 7 polls.
Against this backdrop, the report state that the National Democratic Congress flagbearer former President John Dramani Mahama appears as the preferred alternative against his lead contender the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, owing to the former’s promises of economic revival and a path towards prosperity.
The report also revealed that President Nana Akufo-Addo’s position on the controversial anti-homosexuality bill and his proposal to end visa entry requirements for all Africans, are unlikely to sway public opinion in favour of the NPP.
Moreover, Fitch Solutions latest report recounted that President Akufo-Addo’s attempts to stimulate local production and attract investment through import restrictions have drawn sharp criticism from the Ghanaian business sector, further denting the ruling party’s electoral prospects.
The Role of Third Party in December 7 Polls
Inaddition, Fitch Solutions highlighted the minimal threat posed by third-party candidates, attributing their limited influence to the entrenched financial and organizational advantages enjoyed by the major parties.
Consequently, the report emphasized that electoral battle lines are drawn between the governing New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress, with expectations of social stability and a peaceful transition of power bolstered by Ghana’s robust democratic institutions.
However, the report indicated that looming geopolitical challenges threaten to cast a shadow over Ghana’s electoral process.
According to the report, the potential approval of the anti-homosexuality legislation could strain relations with Western allies, including the International Monetary Fund, while constraints on military assistance from the United States could undermine the country’s efforts to combat the spread of terrorism from the Sahel region, particularly imperilling the less developed northern territories.
With Ghana at the crossroads, the outcome of the December elections holds profound implications for its democratic trajectory and its standing on the global stage.
Again, with economic issues dominating the political discourse in recent times and the prediction of potential change looming large, the stage is set for a historic electoral showdown that would reshape the country’s future.
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