Political Scientist, Dr. Kwasi Amakye Boateng has indicated that the health of the economy will be the overarching decider of the outcome of the December 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
He indicated that the inability of the government to pay Ghana’s domestic and international debts, and the increasing prices of goods and services make matters worse for the ruling NPP as it prepares for the general elections.
He also noted that given the current economic state of the country, the Ashanti Region, which is the NPP’s stronghold has undergone some restructuring in terms of its unwavering support for the ruling NPP.
As such, he noted that the NPP’s recent rally in Ejisu, which saw the attendance of several party bigwigs, is a necessary effort on the part of the NPP to win back supporters, in the Ashanti Region, who may have been demoralized by the party’s poor economic performance.
“Currently, the economy is struggling. Thanks to Dr. Bawumia we know that when the exchange rates behave in a particular way then we have the indication that the fundamentals of the economy are weak. If you go to the market where the economy manifests itself, things keep going up and everybody complains”.
Dr. Kwasi Amakye Boateng
Furthermore, the Political Scientist noted that the NPP is aware that the economy is going to be the main factor that influences voter choices in the 2024 general elections.
He argued that the NPP cannot afford to lose the Ejisu by-elections as it would be a test of the party’s strength and dominance in the Ashanti Region.
Moreover, the Political Scientist noted the NPP losing the Ejisu by-election will be influenced hugely by economic factors rather than the personality of the former MP, Kwabena Aduomi, who is contesting as an independent candidate.
He, however, admitted that the former MP yields some influence as he had undertaken several development projects in his eight-year tenure as MP.
“He did mention the fact that even when they [NPP] were in opposition, he could lobby the ruling government to provide some support for the constituency”. – Dr. Kwame Boateng.
Aduomi’s Influence In Ejisu
Moreover, Dr. Kwame Amakye Boateng indicated that the former MP enjoys seeming traction in the Ejisu constituency due to the NPP’s failure to implement any significant developmental projects in the constituency outside the tenure of the former MP.
He further stated that the likelihood that the constituents of Ejisu will vote based on the personality and achievements of Mr. Aduomi is high.
“It means that the individual Member of Parliament matters, the individual’s strong, deep commitment to the welfare of the people he or she represents matters and that will also show in the way the individual goes about doing what has to be done, lobbying to get projects for the constituency”.
Dr. Kwasi Amakye Boateng
He also noted that Mr. Aduomi’s track record cannot be matched by the NPP, emphasizing that the constituents of Ejisu are aware of the fact that the NPP has not undertaken any significant development in the constituency.
As such, he opined that any votes the NPP would acquire during the April 30th by-elections would be due to the ingrained support for the NPP by electorates.
More so, he revealed that the deep-rooted support the NPP enjoys in Ejisu and the Ashanti region as a whole creates a situation where the constituents have no choice but to vote for the NPP.
He stressed that the NPP takes undue advantage of the unwavering support given to it by the constituents and thereby neglects the Ashanti Region in matters of development.
He also noted that governance under the present NPP administration has been poor as the government has failed to manage the affairs of the country properly.
According to Dr. Kwame Boateng, Ghanaians are suffering as a result of poor governance. He noted that his recent visit to the Ejisu market revealed the suffering of the general public as citizens could not stop complaining about the economy.
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