Naturally, people tend to rally around and support an idea, policy or plan which invariably will be beneficial to them.
It is the natural inclination of man to feel safe, and elections, whether national or regional, tend to have that influence on decisions on both content and priorities in public policy, and it is argued that the relationship is mutually regulatory and reciprocal.
Essentially, such policy and plans of political parties fundamentally in turn affect the outcomes of elections, and it should as a result come as no surprise who eventually becomes the winner.
In other words, the declared policy of parties and factions is transformed by electoral strategy and tactics, and the result of the election too can effect major change in both government policy thereafter and the responses of party and faction to it.
President Akufo-Addo in the leadup to the 2016 general election was able to whip up support based on his free SHS policy. Its implementation stirred the electorates to vote for him, coupled with the promise of building factories and dams across the country which have suffered stillbirths.
As Ghana prepares for the 2024 general elections, political parties, their flagbearers and ardent supporters are now more than ever before hellbent on appealing to the larger groups of electorates on the ticket of ideas, policy and strategies when elected into government.
In the past weeks, and since the ‘outdooring’ of NDC’s flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy which stole the limelight as against NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s Blue Economy, the latter has gone on a ‘discrediting rampage’, doing his best to punch holes in the 24-hour economy plan.
Mahama’s policy gains interest of Okada riders
While Dr Bawumia remains busy, urging Ghanaians to ignore John Mahama’s idea because the “track record of John Mahama doesn’t show innovative thinking and it doesn’t show ideas”, the latter is however receiving some solidarity messages on his ideas from prominent institutions and the latest to join is the Okada Riders Association of Ghana (ORAG), which holds a place in his heart.
The association believes that the 24-hour economy will be a solution by itself to all the challenges of its entire membership and their family, as well as customers and dealers of motor vehicles and spare parts dealers.
It equally noted that mechanics and vulcanizers have started showing interest in the conversation, leading to such a fantastic “idea of jobs for all, at all times”.
“We have heard of the intention of the NDC to change our current intermittent economy to a 24-hour economy when they come to power. Our understanding of the unprecedented substitution from the current economy to the 24-hour economy is that, our economy will no longer slow down nor come to a halt due to the direction of the sun. Business as well as service delivery, to continue irrespective of sunrise or sunset.”
Okada Riders Association of Ghana
The group revealed that the enthusiasm for the 24-hour economy is like how a “team of footballers will feel when a strategy is put in place for all members of the team to be playing at the same time simultaneously”.
This, it noted, will help riders save money as they will have a choice of time to do business conveniently and also maximize gains with no fear of security challenges as the case is now.
Meanwhile, it is important to note that the desires of politicians cannot override that of citizens and expect to thrive and succeed. It has been proven over the years that political parties which treat the needs and desires of the electorates in a dismissive manner have paid the full price for it.
Owing to this, building manifestos, plans and strategies on the foundation of the needs of people makes them equally lean to such ideas, simply because it paints the picture of inclusivity in their hearts and minds.
Also, it tells them of the considerate heart of a leader who is willing to put in the work to cause change in the lives of people in the country. The earlier both parties within the political enclave of this country realize this, the better the outcome of elections will turn out, and by extension, the growth of the economy.
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