Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante has indicated that factors such as morality and integrity do not influence voter choice in Ghanaian elections, either Parliamentary or Presidential.
He noted that electorates are mostly influenced by the personality, experience, and religion of contestants. He argued that though the Ejisu by-election, to be held on 30th April 2024, will be influenced by different factors, morality, and integrity are not likely factors to consider.
Dr. Asah-Asante noted that due to the variables that influence voter choices, electorates tend to elect leaders who do not deliver on their mandates but are glorified and elected after every four years of nonperformance.
He indicated this phenomenon creates a vicious cycle of unsatisfied electorates always criticizing underperforming leaders whom they still elect despite their failures.
“That cycle continues to exist and we are not ready to break the neck of that circle so it’s gradually becoming albatross around our neck. That is why when you have somebody from a political party who is disenchanted and goes independent, then you see the party go in tears”.
Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante
Furthermore, the Political Scientist indicated that the NPP’s decision to clear all nine contestants for the party’s primary election to be held on the 13th of April 2024 is nothing out of the ordinary.
He argued that each of the contestants believes that he or she has what it takes to contest and win the election while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by its decision to clear all contestants to participate shows that it believes all the contestants are qualified to contest.
Dr. Asah- Asante however noted that the actual issue is whether or not the individual contestants have access to human and material resources that will help them in their bid to win the election, emphasizing that the contestants will need messages that resonate with the constituents and will persuade electorates to vote for them.
Accordingly, he opined that given that the constituency is a stronghold of the NPP, whoever wins the primary election will make it into Parliament, arguing that the NPP seems to be “jostling” to fill the Ejisu seat because the party is at a disadvantage in Parliament as the Minority caucus currently outnumbers it.
“Remember that when you are organizing elections in the party’s stronghold, there’s always the effort by people to contest because the party is attractive, the party has numbers, and the little chance that avails to you, if you can plan and plan well and organize well you should win the election and that is what is driving a lot of people in there”.
Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante
Candidates All Qualified
The Director of Research and Election of the NPP, Evans Nimako, indicated that the party cleared all the contestants because all of them met the criteria as stated by the party’s constitution.
He emphasized that the party did not reduce the numbers as it did not want to create the impression that it was imposing a candidate on the delegate which would cause disenchantment in the party’s rank and file.
Furthermore, he noted that though people are entitled to their individual opinions, it is wrong to compare the personalities of the contestants of the Ejisu by-election to the personality of the late MP, John Kumah, and conclude that the candidature of any of these contestants will negatively impact the NPP electoral fortunes in the Ejisu constituency.
He argued that all the contestants have unique capabilities and experiences they bring on board that will benefit the party equally during the 2024 general polls.
Furthermore, Evans Nimako indicated that the rumor that the party sponsors specific candidates in by-elections is false, however, he noted that whoever emerges winner of the Ejisu by-election will be supported fully by the party during the 2024 Parliamentary election.
Conclusively, the NPP Director of Elections noted that the NDC’s decision not to participate in the by-election is unfortunate. He clarified however that whether or not the NDC participates in the election, the NPP’s victory at the polls on April 30th is assured.
